Catch Me If You Can – Kammerspiele der Josefstadt, Vienna

A scene from Catch Me If You Can at the Kammerspiele der Josefstadt, Vienna. Picture: Rita Newman

Catch Me If You Can continues in rep at the Kammerspiele der Josefstadt, Vienna.

After months of refurbishment, the Kammerspiele der Josefstadt is back with a bang. Directing his seventh show, Werner Sobotka returns to the legendary theatre with the European premiere of the Scott Wittman/Marc Shaiman/Terrence McNally show Catch Me If You Can. Based on the 2002 movie of the same name, the show traces the life of Frank Abagnale Jr and his escape from his life and the FBI.

Having taken our seats, we were made to feel as if we were at the airport. The curtains on the stage were down, but there was a screen with departures listed. Also, there were voices giving flight information. What a promising way to set the mood for this show. Compared to the film, the show is a lot faster, funnier and narrated by the man himself, which works really well. The show begins with Frank, played by Rasmus Borkowski, and the FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Martin Berger). The former introduces all of the characters involved and invites the audience to his version of his story. He is interrupted by Carl, who keeps adding in his take on events, and then Frank suggests that he wants to pull off a show and all he needs is an orchestra. That is when the musicians enter and one by one walk down to the newly-built orchestra pit.

Borkowski shines on all levels: his acting is brilliant, his singing flawless, and yes, he is the one with the most singing to do, as he appears in every single scene. He also shines as a dancer. Berger is a glorious Carl, both funny and emotional.

Axel Herrig as Frank Abagnale Senior is brilliant as he harmonises with his son and impresses as an actor, particularly towards the end of the show, as he grows older and his economic and personal situation changes drastically.

Karin Seyfried is a very charismatic Paula, even though she is slightly young to play a mother, while Lisa Habermann is sincere and innocent in her acting as Brenda Strong. Particularly remarkable is her solo, but the duet with Frank is equally impressive. Brenda’s parents are played very solidly by Dean Welterlen and Ariane Swoboda. Extremely humorous are the three FBI agents portrayed by Tim David Hüning, Andreas Wanasek and Christian Petru.

Simon Eichenberger’s wonderful choreography is fast, working perfectly with Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman’s swinging score.  Highlights include the number performed by Carl and his FBI agents, as well as the production number based around Frank’s time as a ‘doctor’, with all female dancers dressed as nurses.

Sobotka is an expert when it comes to comedy. The dialogue is extremely fast, the jokes work and the translation (also by Sobotka) makes one forget that Terrence McNally’s book wasn’t originally written in this language. The musical director for this show is once again pianist Christian Frank, who is joined by Andy Mayerl on bass, Rens Newland on guitar, Klaus Perez-Salado on drums and Herbert Berger on reeds.

The sets and projections, which are a great addition to the show, are designed by Walter Vogelweider, and the costumes are by Elisabeth Gressel.

While it was quite a risk to re-open the venue with a show that in 2011 ran for only five months on Broadway, I am pleased to say that a better show couldn’t have been chosen. It is a brilliant production which works on all levels and will definitely have audiences in Vienna dancing for a long time.

 Ludovico Lucchesi Palli

http://www.josefstadt.org/Theater/Stuecke/Kammerspiele/CatchMeIfYouCan.html