Impulstanz: „ Come back again", Susanne Kirnbauer-Bundy & Doris Uhlich, Akademietheater, July 21st, 2025.

Jul 23

Jul 23 Impulstanz: „ Come back again", Susanne Kirnbauer-Bundy & Doris Uhlich, Akademietheater, July 21st, 2025.

Impulstanz: „ Come back again", Susanne Kirnbauer-Bundy & Doris Uhlich, Akademietheater, July 21st, 2025.

Heavy rains on the way to the theatre. I was quite happy that the Performance started a little later than usual, as I arrived at the theatre 2 minutes past 7 pm. Yes, I was caught in the Underground Station for more than half an hour. With no electricity!

I was looking for this evening. And I wanted to make it to the Theatre.

While waiting for the rain to pass and make it to the theatre on time, I was caught in my memories. Pleasant ones. When I think back to my first „real glimpse" of Miss Kirnbauer... It was on TV, not on the stage of the Vienna State Opera (where I would see her many times in the years to come!).

Can you believe that? It was in Rio de Janeiro, in the BBC „The Magic of Dance", Margot Fonteyn’s brilliant series, and I was a teenager. She danced the Wiesenthal choreography of „Wein, Weib und Gesang" with (just) Margot Fonteyn sitting on her beautiful apartment's Art Nouveau living room in Vienna's Centre (viewing the Opera, in a very similar way to Zizi Jeanmaire's and Roland Petit's old flat in Paris, viewing the Opera Garnier). Chic! I remember thinking in those days that “Someday I want to visit this flat”. And I did.

But enough of reminiscences and back to the Performance and yesterday. I did not know what to really expect.

And this was good.

I had heard from friends about the honesty of the Performance (Underline the word Performance. But not much more. Not being very well-acquainted with Miss Uhlich's work, I was „ready for a surprise" and I could not have been more delighted of what I experienced during the hour of the show, apart from the fact that I love the feeling of not knowing what to expect, of not having a pre-conceived idea of what one is going to witness.

What a “treat”.

First of all, the „dramaturgy" caught me. Unguarded. It was immediately clear that there was not going to be any hint of nostalgia or wistfulness, that there was no place for a „victim attitude" (so boringly and repetitiously used these days), no „self pity", neither „airs and graces" nor affectations, and that (feared) „imitation of youthfulness" was not going to take place.

Apart from this powerful personality, on Stage one could see (and feel) something that is becoming quite rare these days: Charisma.

This, cleverly used with the help of an imaginary „colour palette" that reflected more of an „emotion palette" - from insecurities to determination, from the suggestion of strenuous daily routines, repetitions to the quite simple effect of understanding numbers (age), also backwards. And comment on them („My first Giselle", and „my dressing room and flowers for my Aurora Début", to give a few of these delicate, touching examples).

All this with charm, appeal and fascination. And no clichés.

No sadness, no „Norma Desmondisms" of people living in the past, no “Diva attitudes”, no „come-backs" (a word that “Norma” hated), but more like a „return", a „new visit", or perhaps a „celebration" of life and a long, dedicated career.

And by the way, you got me right: I am referring to Billy Wilder's classic film „Sunset Boulevard" with Gloria Swanson as „Norma"!

The standard was set high. Sets, costumes, and lighting reflected a very well-organised cooperation, even if done with a small budget. But what else could one expect when a person like Miss Kirnbauer-Bundy (to whom I shall refer from now on, „show business like", as Miss Kirnbauer, as this was her stage name) joins a production? From an Artist always very well-deservedly praised by her Elegance (And I don't mean this just physically), professionalism and good taste?

'Come back again' can mean just 'to come back' or, better, 'to return', which I think is much more fitting into the context that was presented last evening. Contrary to the mention in a „press excerpt" in the programme that (very) erroneously and superficially describes the evening (I quote) as „a successful comeback" (?!?!).

„Come back again" expresses the action of returning to a place or person again after having been there once before. It can also mean returning to a previous situation, state or habit.

To mention „Norma Desmond" again, it is very hard to come back when you never left.

And this is how I see Miss Kirnbauer's attitude toward dance. It is part of her being, part of her soul. It is daily with her. So let us keep, in the back of our minds, this notion and refer, from now on, to her performance as a „return" (and not a „comeback").

I repeat: It is very hard to come back when you never left. Think of that.

I have to question some parts of the Performance, which are obviously quite superfluous, as the „moderation" and „talk" towards the end.

Miss Uhlich's „roles" or participation in moving, as one cannot speak of a real „choreography" - or dance- with a certain dance language, and speaking roles. should have been kept more in the background, as the audience came for a completely different reason: To rejoice in Miss Kirnbauer's Persona and Determination (Please note that I am saying neither „past" nor „memories").

But, the level of „intimacy " given is absolutely adequate: Intimate, simple, personal in the right measure, and yet filled with so many details. Accurate, delicate and important ones. Emotional.

And most of all with sensibility that leads the public to an immediate sense of empathy.

An evening of consistency. And Strength.

It is good to be present, once more, at a display of star quality. At one of those few moments when we see an Artist “enchant” and fascinate an audience, an artist in full command of his trade.

A highly recommendable Evening filled with Dignity.

Ricardo Leitner

July 22nd, 2025