The+Threepenny+OperaBertholdt+Brecht

=//The Threepenny Opera// by Bertolt Brecht= You walk over to the display that is showing the Threepenny Opera, and pick up a copy. A woman walks over to you, she asks if you're interested in other works of Bertolt Brecht, to which you reply that this is the first you've read of his works. She tells you that she would recommend his work to anyone, and introduces herself as Helene Weigel, Brecht's wife. She then proceeds to outline the plot of novel : The story is set within the Victorian era in central London, and tells the story of Macheath, a wayward, antiheroic criminal. Macheath (Mack the Knife) marries a woman called Polly Peachum. Her father, however, does not approve of their matrimony and attempts incarcerate and hang Macheath. His attempts are hindered by the fact that the Chief of Police is Macheath's old army comrade. He fails in his bid to execute him, with the play ending on a high as Macheath is pardoned and obtains the title of baron. The message that the story attempts to elaborate on is //"Who is the greater criminal: he who robs a bank or he who founds one?"// Brecht and musical composer Kurt Weill rose to prominence following the release of the play, having been translated into eighteen different languages and having been performed on over 10,000 separate occasions across Europe. media type="youtube" key="n-FsOu79iss" height="315" width="560" You learn that this story is set to revolutionise "Epic Theatre" - a genre which maintains the audience's awareness that they are watching a play. The production is set to include clear description and reporting and use choruses and projections as a means of commentary, hence the name "Epic theatre." The "Epic Theatre" found within the play became the first of its kind upon its release. The themes of the story contrast greatly to the ideals of the Nazi political party, and portrays a Marxist critique towards the capitalistic world. Brecht and Weill were forced to leave Germany following the rise of the Nazi party.

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