Event

Without much fanfare, the Theater Neu-Ulm kicks off its new season.

It goes without saying that the program begins with the production that brought the last season to such a wonderful close:

“Kleine Schritte” (Small Steps). A huge success—that’s the short and apt way to describe Petra Winterstellen’s play, in which “Riese & Ko,” the two founders of Theater Neu-Ulm, shine.

Ruth, a woman in her prime, wife of a workaholic, a mother suffering from empty-nest syndrome—her two children are grown and have left home—drives into town every Thursday, for no reason, with no destination. Ruth would like to… would probably… should… Actually.

One fine Thursday, Alfons stumbles up to the bus stop. He must be a little off. Maybe he’s an alcoholic. He has a weakness for candy. He talks Ruth’s ear off. She’s not amused. He couldn’t care less. He talks her ear off, pretending to play table tennis, do Feldenkrais exercises, and dance salsa—only ballet isn’t really his thing. Anyway, he’s been working in the private sector for a while now; he used to be a chef; he’s on his third marriage to a much younger woman whom he adores, and they have two children together, ages 14 and 16. A late father—as he puts it. What can one say? The two develop a friendly affection for one another, confiding in each other about the burdens they carry. You could say they’re providing therapy for each other during their Thursday dates at this bus stop.

And for the voyeurs in the theater stalls, it’s quite entertaining

to watch them encourage one another,

to share in the excitement of whether they’re making progress toward happiness, and

to see if their progress is sustainable.