Gunkl tour starts

Gunkl – one of Austria’s most gifted stage entertainers – is performing a new programme.

The artist also known as Günther Paal will perform “Die großen Kränkungen der Menschheit – auch schon nicht leicht” on several stages across Austria in the coming weeks. However, the “Salzburger Stier” laureate is also looking forward to entertaining his fans in Switzerland.

Gunkl, who presented his first one-man stage programme in 1994, received wide acclaim for his ability to debate some of the most complex questions of life in a hilariously amusing way. The versatile musician and writer refers to relationship difficulties, odd everyday life occurrences and much more on stage.

“Die großen Kränkungen der Menschheit – auch schon nicht leicht” is Gunkl’s 10th one-man show. The programme – which follows the highly successful “Verluste – eine Geschichte” – premiered last September.

“Gunkl does devilishly well in making aware of issues and connections we might not notice in our everyday lives,” the Salzburger Nachrichten once wrote while the Süddeutsche Zeitung praised him as a “philosopher and thinker who is funny nevertheless”.

The Münchner Merkur pointed out that an evening with Gunkl – who has been part of fellow comedian Alfred Dorfer’s on-stage band since 1993 – would not only entertain but also educate. Magazine profil underlined the spoken word acrobat’s “sophisticated elegance”.

Go to www.e-a.at or www.gunkl.at for Gunkl’s touring schedule and ticket information.

Meanwhile, a small Viennese stage offers a “sing-along vampire experience”. “Vlad” portrays a remote village which is haunted by what some panicking residents fear could be a vampire. The comedy play starring Raoul Biltgen, Maya Henselek and “Ein echter Wiener geht nicht unter” legend Erika Deutinger is currently on at the Theater an der Gumpendorfer Straße (TAG; www.dastag.at).

The theatre located in Vienna-Mariahilf also offers “Hamlet Sein” these days. Kurier critic Guido Tartarotti identified the play as “probably the most exciting theatre production in months”. He gave “Hamlet Sein” five out of five possible stars in his rating.

The Burgkino Vienna (www.burgkino.at) – a tradition-rich original versions cinema – will screen an American drama movie, an award-winning Margaret Thatcher biopic, Robert Guediguian’s new film and an espionage movie from 1949 on Easter Sunday (8 April).

“Take Shelter” written and directed by Jeff Nichols features Michael Shannon (“Revolutionary Road”) and “The Help” star Jessica Chastain in leading roles. Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent and Richard E. Grant star in “The Iron Lady”. “Les Neiges du Kilimandjaro” (The Snows of Kilimanjaro) and Carol Reed’s “The Third Man” will also be on at the Burgkino this Sunday.