The work is directed by Sigsteinn Sigurbergsson and Þórunn Lárusdóttir, and it is Sigstein’s directorial debut with Lotta. The piece was written by Anna Bergljót Thorarensen and the authors of the music are Baldur Ragnarsson, Björn Thorarensen, Rósa Ásgeirsdóttir and Helgi Reynir Jónsson. The authors of the lyrics are Sævar Sigurgeirsson and Baldur Ragnarsson, but ticket sales and more information can be found at tix.is.
Good for today
The musical Color country is ten years old, was premiered by Lotta on May 24, 2016, and unlike the group’s other works, it is not based on a well-known fairy tale, but an original one.
A bull Color country very popular when it was staged a decade ago, and Sigsteinn is asked why this show has been chosen now, out of all the ones the troupe has staged. “Color country was one of the works we had to show again, and the story is very relevant today,” says Sigsteinn.
Sigsteinn Sigurbergsson
He is asked to tell what the work is about. “Color country deals with the colors, the primary colors yellow, blue and red. The Gulver people are the biggest and richest, own the biggest land. The Reds are a little wilder and live in another part of the country, and the Blues are hardworking and live in a territory that is giving in to them, it’s getting smaller and smaller. There are earthquakes and the sea is taking its toll and they need new territory or they just die. They are looking for territory with the Gulverians, but there is no way that the Gulverians will let them in, they have so much money and don’t want someone like that to come in,” says Sigsteinn.
“So there is a little twist in the story, one red color and one yellow have confused the two, and the red color, Rjóð, is pregnant by Geisla, who is yellow and future royal material. Together they create a color that no one has seen before, which is orange,” Sigsteinn says, and that the message is ultimately that we are all in various colors, with red blood, clear sweat and so on. Sigsteinn says it is always important to remember that we are all welcome.
Great cooperation
As mentioned above, Anna Bergljót Thorarensen is the author of the work and has also written all the works that Lotta has staged. Sigsteinn says that the idea for the work has been brewing in Anna’s head for a long time, i.e. ten years ago. “But it’s as if it was written for the present, even though it’s always been relevant,” says Sigsteinn.
The set and costumes of the show are, as you might expect, extremely colorful and Sigsteinn says that the troupe does it all by itself. “I built the set, Andrea painted it and Rósa and Aldís make the costumes,” Sigsteinn mentions as an example of the group’s cooperation.
Sigsteinn is asked if the group hasn’t encountered various adventures and problems related to weather and winds.
“Jujuju, we’ve had a torrential downpour where everything has been knocked out, the winds have blown off our wigs and props. When we were starting, we also forgot to assume that the animals would be with us a bit. There were cats on the stage taking some props and birds eating our props. We’ve had all kinds of adventures,” Sigsteinn says with a smile.
The game sucks
But has any set taken away? “Not as a whole during a show, but we had a situation, twelve years ago I think, that we were setting up in Gilsfjörður and then a gust of wind came that took the whole set. It was just luck that no one was injured, but there was no audience. We had to cancel that show,” says Sigsteinn, and that the set was considerably damaged. The group therefore had to show a smaller version of the play, without a set.
– It takes a lot of fortitude to do this!
“Yes, this can be sad, but we are used to everything from traveling around the country, we often get to go into gymnasiums and things like that when the weather is bad,” answers Sigsteinn. “Since then, we’ve also started to know how to turn and listen too, if there’s a yellow or red warning, we don’t show. It’s not fun for anyone.”
Many lots
Have there been any changes in the cast in recent years?
“Yes, many Lotts have been born, but the basic group is a bit the same. After twenty years with the troupe, for the first time I am not acting in the show, but directing, and it’s not boring to have the experienced Þórunna Lárusdóttir by my side,” answers Sigsteinn. A few days ago, at the premiere, he saw Lotta’s show for the first time as a spectator. Sigsteinn is asked if it wasn’t difficult for him to sit and watch. “Sure, it was a bit like that,” he replies jokingly. This summer he plans to take a break from performing, spend time with friends and family, learn how to camp and go to town festivals.
All information about those involved in the update can be found at the URL
www.leikhopurinnlotta.is/litaland.
