Apspel (Monkey Games)

Apspel (Monkey Games) is based on true events which took place at the Copenhagen Zoo. The piece depicts a male and female orangutan cohabitating in a cage at the zoo when suddenly the female falls ill and dies. Though highly intelligent animals, the male oranguatan nevertheless cannot comprehend the permanence of her death. When the veterinarian discovers the dead female she is taken away, and the male orangutan is unable to understand why.

In time, a new female is brought to the zoo, and the veterinarian is seen playing with her outside the male’s cage. Eventually, she is introduced to the male and they accept one another. However, the male has grown suspicious of the veterinarian since the arrival of his new companion and, growing paranoid, attacks the caregiver when he suspects him of wanting to take away his new mate.

The work can be read as simple depiction of the events but also in its symbolic form. As psychodrama or morality tale.

Music: Niels Viggo Bentzon

Set Design: Allan Friderica

Light Design: Allan Friderica

World Premiere: 1969