Spader, Madame!

"Spader, Madame!" is a Swedish variety show that had its première the 10 January 1969 on Oscarsteatern in Stockholm. It was written by Hans Alfredsson and Tage Danielsson and directed by Tage. Both of the writers starred in the show. Hasse played the banker Falkenström and Tage freiherr von Löwenkiöld.

The show also starred Monica Zetterlund, Birgitta Andersson, Grynet Molvig, Martin Ljung, Gösta Ekman, Fatima Ekman, Fina Kören and Gunnar Svenssons Salongsorkester.

The show was later adapted for television, using Sturehofs castle as the set. This version has been released on DVD and the soundtrack has been released for both LP and CD.

Plot

The story is set in the beginning of the 19th century, an era that Hasseåtage thought was very much like the 1960s.A gang of people from the upper classes has withdrawn to a place in the country were they plan to live for a couple of days, listening to Schubert music and simply enjoy life.

The plan goes very wrong however, when most of the things go wrong and the company runs out of food and drinks in a couple of days.

Music

All music in the show were based on music already written by Franz Schubert with new lyrics written by Hans Alfredsson and Tage Danielsson. The songs used in the show are as follows:

First Act.
* "Forellen" (The Trout), sung by Monica Zetterlund.(Die Forelle, D. 550).
* "Sång, som handlar om sig själv" (Song, that is about itself), sung by Egil and the Manchoir.(Nachtelle)
* "Herdens sång om herdens sång om herden" (The shepards song about the shepards song about the shepard), sung by Martin Ljung.()
* "Du går an" (You're okay), sung by Grynet Molvig and Tage Danielsson.(Octet in F-Major, Fourth Movement, opus 199)
* "Pigornas Kurt" (Kurt of the maids), sung by Monica Zetterlund.(Theme from the 6:th Symphony, First Movement)
* "Vid sybågen", aka "Här sitter jag i värmen" (At the Embroidery, aka Here i sit in the warmth), sung by Grynet Molvig.(Der Lindenbaum, op 89, d. 911)
* "Spader, Madame!" (A word play, Spader Madame can be thought of as The Queen of Spades, but the sentence actually means "I'm going crazy, madame"), sung by all.(5th Symphony, 3rd Movement)

Second Act.
* "Den gode vilden" aka "Lilla svarta Saras dans" (The Good Savage aka Little black Saras dance), performed by Fatima Ekman and the choir.(Nr. 3, from 3 Klaviersrücke, D 946).
* "Längtans blåa blomma" (The Longings blue flower), sung by Ulla Hallin and the Choir.(Rosamunda, intermission nr 2)
* "Blodvisan" (The Bloodsong), sung by Grynet Molvig.(Waltz nr six from Twelve Waltz, op. 18, D. 145).
* "Donna Juanita". sung by Monica Zetterlund.(6:th Symphony, Second Movement).
* "Hittebarnet" (The abandoned child), sung by Monica Zetterlund and the choir.(First and Second waltz from Twelve Waltz, op. 18, D. 145).
* "Solen är en ball kula" (The Sun is a groovey marble), sung by all.(Ouvertyr from Rosamunda).
* "Lyckan är alltid kort" (Happiness is always short), sung by all.(Theme from the "unfinished" 8th Symphony, First movement).

Reception

The stageplay, allthough popular by the public, got very bad reviews from the press. The TV-version however gave the show recognition among both public and critics. Those who had been negative about the stageplay and written harsh reviews on it gave very positive response to the other version of the show.

References

* Staffan Schöier & Stefan Hermelin (2005). Hasse & Tage: Svenska Ord & co: Saga & Sanning ISBN 9100103993

External links

*Imdb title|0448257|Spader, Madame!