Overview
Synopsis
Claire Zachanassian, a famously wealthy woman, decides to return to her hometown of Brachen, Switzerland, for the first time since she left it, at 18 years old. The inhabitants of the town, now utterly impoverished after “The War”, are hopeful that Claire might offer financial support to revive their community. In fact, Claire has returned to Brachen for one reason, and it’s not philanthropy: she wants revenge. Meeting her former lover, Anton Schell, for the first time since her departure, Claire finds familiar emotions bursting to life; the pair are haunted by their former selves. In this remarkable allegory about aging, greed, and the violent power of love, a town is forced to face its demons while a woman makes her final, powerful step towards absolution. The Visit, the historic final collaboration by John Kander and Fred Ebb (Chicago, Cabaret, The Scottsboro Boys), is a dark, enthralling musical masterpiece.
Show Information
- Book
- Terrence McNally
- Music
- John Kander
- Lyrics
- Fred Ebb
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- "The Visit" by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 2001
- Genres
- Drama, Dark Comedy, Romance
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- brachen, switzerland, anytime.
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Ideal For
- College/University, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Young Adult, Adult Characters, Large Cast
Context
The musical was adapted by Friedrich Dürrenmatt's 1956 play of the same title.
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Countertenor, Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Countertenor, Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
Songs
Prelude ● Out of the Darkness - Townspeople ● At Last - Claire, Townspeople ● I Walk Away - Claire, Louis Perch, Jacob Chicken, Rudi ● I Know Claire - Anton ● A Happy Ending - Mayor, Priest, Doctor, Police Chief, School Master, Townspeople ● You, You, You - Claire, Anton, Young Claire, Young Anton ● I Must Have Been Something - Anton ● Look at Me - Claire, Anton, Young Claire, Young Anton, Company ● A Masque - Mayor, Townspeople ● Eunuch’s Testimony - Louis Perch, Jacob Chicken ● Winter - Claire ● Yellow Shoes- Doctor, Townspeople ● A Confession - Claire, Company ● I Would Never Leave You - Rudi, Louis Perch, Jacob Chicken, Claire ● Back and Forth - Matilde, Ottilie, Karl ● The Only One - Friedrich Kohn ● Fear - Anton ● A Car Ride - Anton, Matilde Ottilie, Karl, Young Claire, Young Anton ● Love and Love Alone - Claire ● In The Forest Again - Claire, Anton, Young Claire, Young Anton ● Finale - Townspeople
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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