(from Exberliner, 5/10.)
Let’s not mince words, as the play doesn’t mince its intent: Bertolt Brecht’s 1939 Mutter Courage und Ihre Kinder is heavy-handed in its approach to war. But then again, war isn’t known for its great subtleties either. Renowned as the greatest play of the 20th century, it delivers a decisive judgment on those who profiteer from war and is still relevant in today’s military-industrial complex society. In contemporary society, the characters may be just as despicable as Brecht's, if only they would be hoisted by their own petards.