The Black Rider

Music: Tom Waits

Lyrics: Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan

Original Directing and Stage Scenery: Robert Wilson

Original Score: Tom Waits and Greg Cohen

Original Script: William S. Burroughs

Dramaturgy: Wolfgang Wiens

Wilhelm, the clerk, falls in love with the daughter of a hunter. For the marriage Wilhelm has to prove that he can hold his own as a hunter, this is the only way to win the blessing of the girl’s father. Especially when the father planned to wed Kätchen to someone else. However, Wilhelm is used to using the quill, not the rifle, he shoots horribly. And even if there is love, the chances of marriage are getting slimmer. But one day everything changes: Wilhelm buys magic bullets from a limping stranger, and from that point every shot of his hits. As long as he doesn’t run out of bullets, then he has to purchase again, and again, and again, and again.

The ‘musical tale’ was first presented in 1990 as an adaptation of Weber’s The Marksman, made by Robert Wilson, American theatre director and visual artist, and Tom Waits, singer-songwriter, composer. The story of the 1821 opera was based on the true story and the short story made from the records of an 18th century court trial in Czechia. The script of the Black Rider was written by William S. Burroughs, one of the prominent figures of the beat generation, who had got into a scarily similar situation as seen in The Marksman: recreating the spirit of the legend of William Tell he tried to shoot the apple off of his wife’s head. The attempt, regrettably, was not successful. 

Who controlled the bullet of Burroughs? Was it maybe the peg legged stranger? We may never know… Anyways, ‘only a fool makes a deal with the Devil. And still, there is one for every minute who shakes hands with the Pegleg’.

By special arrangement between Felix Bloch Erben Agency, Berlin, Germany and Theatrum Mundi Theatrical & Literary Agency, Budapest, with the permission of St. Rose Music Publishing Co.Inc., New York

The runtime of the show is 1 hour 50 minutes, without intermission.