‘Lotte’s Gift’ at the Ensemble theatre was a lovingly realised, warm, personal, intimate piece of theatre.

The play had a wonderful theme, the realisation of a wonderful gift that took three generations of a famly to come to fruition. The family’s gift was music! Grandmother Lotte was a wonderful opera singer and loving family figure who because of her responsibilities could never make a career out of her passion.

The gift was passed on to Lotte’s daughter, Trudy von Stein, who was again a family woman who was an accomplished classical guitar player.

It was, however, in the third generation that the gift truly came to life. Karin Schaupp received the gift of a guitar when she was 4 years old from grandmother Lotte. The gift was portentous. Now in her middle twenties Karin has become one of Australia’s leading classical guitarists.

With ‘Lotte’s Gift’ Karin Schaupp now can expand her already very successful career with a show that tells her own personal story, allows her to perform some great short classical pieces, including from Strauss and Handel, and also allows her to also demonstrate her flair for acting. Schaupp recruited Australia’s premiere playwright David Williamson to shape a play out of her material, as well as directing the work.

The action took place in a traditional living room set with the addition of two screens above the stage which projected home slides and video footage.

Schaupp performed solo with her trusted guitar and narrated her story, switching peronas between her own and that of her grandmother’s.

‘Lotte’s Gift’ ended poetically with Karin playing Paraguayan composer Barrios Mangore’s eloquent piece ‘Contemplacion’ in a heartfelt dedication to Lotte. The stage that faded to dark as projected onto the screen was a loving picture of the three women. Opening night was a moving occasion with Karin being joined on stage by her mother, grandmother and David Williamson to receive a standing ovation.

‘Lotte’s Gift’ was a special night in the theatre.