Mother Courage and Her Children (German: Mutter Courage und ihre Kinder) was a play written in 1939 by the German dramatist and poet Bertolt Brecht (1898 - 1956) with significant contributions from his mistress at the time, Margarete Steffin. It has subsequently been filmed. 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

It is one of nine plays that he wrote in an attempt to counter the rise of Fascism and Nazism. Following Brecht's own principles for political drama, the play is not set in modern times but during the Thirty Years' War of 1618-1648. It follows the fortunes of Anna Fierling, nicknamed "Mother Courage," —a wily canteen woman with the Swedish Army who is determined to make her living from the war. Over the course of the play, she loses all three of her children, Swiss Cheese, Eilif, and Katrin, to the same war from which she sought to profit. Fascism is a political ideology and mass movement that seeks to place the nation, defined in exclusive biological, cultural, and/or historical terms, above all other sources of loyalty, and to create a mobilized national community. ... National Socialism redirects here. ... The term Political Drama can be used in several senses. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Canteen has several different meanings: Canteen (place), a private cafe, restaurant, or cafeteria at a school, office, or military base. ... Swedish Army - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

The play is an example of Brecht's concepts of Epic Theatre and Verfremdungseffekt or "alienation". ("Alienation", however, is something of a misleading translation, for it suggests that the audience are actively cut off from the performance. A more accurate translation of Verfremdungseffekt is "distancing effect" or "to make strange", since Brecht's intention was to set the audience apart from familiar situations so that they may think about them objectively). Verfremdungseffekt is achieved through the use of placards which reveal the events of each scene, juxtaposition, actors changing characters and costume on stage, the use of narration, simple props and scenery. For instance, a single tree would be used to convey a whole forest, and the stage is usually flooded with bright white light whether it's a winter's night or a summer's day. Several songs are used to underscore the themes of the play. Epic theater, also known as theater of alienation or theater of politics, is a theater movement arising in the early to mid-20th century, inextricably linked to the German director Bertolt Brecht. ... Bertolt Brecht (February 10, 1898 - August 14, 1956) was an influential German dramatist, stage director, and poet of the 20th century. ...

The action of the play takes place over the course of 12 years —1624 - 1636 —represented in 12 short scenes. One is given a sense of Courage's career without being given enough time to develop sentimental feelings and empathize with any of the characters. Meanwhile, Mother Courage is not depicted as a noble character—here the Brechtian epic theatre sets itself apart from the ancient Greek tragedies in which the heroes are far above the average. With the same alienating effect, the ending of Brecht's play does not arouse our desire to imitate the main character, Mother Courage. Events January 24 - Alfonso Mendez, appointed by Pope Gregory XV as Prelate of Ethiopia, arrives at Massawa from Goa. ... Events February 24 - King Christian of Denmark gives an order that all beggars that are able to work must be sent to Brinholmen Island to build ships or as galley rowers March 26 - Utrecht University founded in The Netherlands. ... The Sentiment for 18th century readers and writers is an equivalent for a strong romantic, usually exageratedly powerful feeling. ... For the fictional character, see Empath (comics). ...

Brecht and Steffin wrote this play in only two months, and it is among his most famous plays. His work attempts to show the dreadfulness of war and the idea that virtues are not rewarded in corrupt times. He used an epic structure so that the audience focuses on the issues being displayed rather than getting involved with the characters and emotions. Epic plays are of a very distinct genre and are typical of Brecht; a strong case could be made that he invented the form.

The play was originally produced in Zurich at the Schauspielhaus, produced by Leopold Lindtberg in 1941. Music was written by Paul Dessau. The musicians were placed in view of the audience so that they could be seen—this is one of Brecht's many techniques in Epic Theatre. Therese Giehse, (a well-known actress at the time) took the title role. The first production in (East-)Berlin was in 1949, with Brecht's (second) wife Helene Weigel, his main actress and later also director, as Mother Courage. Location within Switzerland   Zürich[?] (German pronunciation IPA: ; usually spelled Zurich in English) is the largest city in Switzerland (population: 366,145 in 2004; population of urban area: 1,091,732) and capital of the canton of Zürich. ... Paul Dessau (b. ... Born in Vienna in 1900 the daughter of a Jewish Lawyer, she was one of the most outstanding German actors of her generation, a Communist Party member from 1930 and Artistic Director of The Berliner Ensemble after her husband Bertholt Brechts death in 1956. ...

This production would highly influence the formation of the Berliner Ensemble, which would provide Brecht a venue to direct many of his plays. Brecht died directing Galileo for the Ensemble.

From August to September of 2006, Mother Courage and Her Children was produced by the Public Theatre in New York City with a new translation by playwright Tony Kushner (Angels in America). This production included new music by composer Jeanine Tesori (Caroline, or Change) and was directed by George C. Wolfe. Meryl Streep played "Mother Courage" with a supporting cast that included Kevin Kline and Austin Pendleton. This rare production of Mother Courage and Her Children was free to the public and played to full houses at the Public Theatre's Delacorte Theatre in Central Park. It was regarded as the hottest ticket in New York during its four week run. Tony Kushner (born July 16, 1956) is an award-winning American playwright most famous for his play Angels in America, for which he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. ... Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes is a play in two parts by American playwright Tony Kushner. ... Jeanine Tesori (formerly known as Jeanine Levenson) is a composer of musicals. ... Caroline, or Change is a sung-through Broadway musical with book and lyrics by Tony Kushner and score by Jeanine Tesori, originally directed by George C. Wolfe. ... George C. Wolfe (September 23, 1954 - ) is an African-American playwright and director of theater and film. ... Meryl Streep (born Mary Louise Streep on June 22, 1949) is a two-time Academy Award winning American actress who has worked in theatre, television, and film. ... Kevin Delaney Kline (born October 24, 1947) is an Academy Award- and Tony Award-winning American stage and film actor. ... Austin Pendleton (born on 27 March 1940 in Warren, Ohio, USA) is an American movie, television and stage actor. ... The Delacorte Theatre is an open-air theatre located in Manhattans Central Park. ...

See also

• Mother Courage, the character upon whom the play was based