East German Director Applies Brechtian Touch to CSUN Production

Heinz-Uwe Haus walked to the back of the Campus Theatre at Cal State Northridge to take in the rehearsal spectacle. On stage were about three dozen actors, singers, musicians, carpenters and assorted crew members, as well as a choreographer, a conductor and a stage manager who periodically yelled, “Could we please have some quiet, people!,” over the din of conversation, activity and laughter.

Haus’ eyes darted back and forth, trying to take it all in. “There is so much to do, and the time is almost over,” the East German director said in a quiet, lightly accented voice. “It is always the same, everywhere.”

Haus should know. He has directed productions of plays by his fellow countryman, Bertolt Brecht, all over the world. His staging of the late playwright’s “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” will be performed today, tomorrow and Sunday and Nov. 17-Nov. 20 at the Campus Theatre.

Theater department faculty members have been trying for the last 3 years--ever since Haus was on campus as a guest lecturer for the German and theater departments--to arrange a visit by him to direct a play by Brecht.

“We felt it was important for our students to work with someone who understands Brecht as well as Dr. Haus,” said Jeff Levy, an instructor in the theater department and the general manager of the CSUN theater. “Brecht, who is of a stature most modern playwrights are not, is Dr. Haus’ specialty. He is able to capture the complexities of Brecht’s world in a way many American directors cannot.”

It’s a rare chance to see a full-fledged production of a Brecht play that is famous in theatrical circles but is far from being a staple of the commercial repertory. Even partly subsidized theaters are hard-pressed to put on the epic political allegory about a kitchen maid who struggles to keep her child in the midst of a revolution raging around her. The play has 60 acting roles (at CSUN a company of 23 actors play the various parts) as well as singers and musicians. There are costumes for all the different roles and an elaborate set that includes a large turntable.

“That is one reason I enjoy directing here at a university,” Haus said as the stage manager oversaw the correction of a technical problem before rehearsal could continue.

“The costs would be much too high to do this kind of a play in commercial theater.

“Here, I have to spend much of my time teaching, but that is OK with me. It is my chance to do Brecht in this country.”

Haus, 45, most recently directed Brecht’s “Galileo” in Portland, Ore. He has also directed at New York University, Kenyon College and Villanova University, as well as at schools and theaters in his native country and throughout Europe. His next U.S. post is as an artist in residence at the University of Delaware.

Haus has found one thing disturbing about directing at an American university--its relative anonymity. “These students do all this work for so many months and we do a production we have a lot of pride in, but not many people outside the school know about us,” he said before heading back toward the stage. “It is different in other countries. University theater is well-known. There is more publicity.

“These students deserve to be seen.”