Actors with attitude - Nick Wilder: The message of the Karl May plays fits the times
Actor Nick Wilder, who is spending this summer in Germany for the Karl-May-Plays, looks critically at the social and political situation in his homeland, the USA. The 71-year-old has lived mainly in Montana with his wife for around 25 years.
People not only in the USA are increasingly displeased, Wilder told dpa. He sees one reason for this in the digital world: Many have made themselves hostages of the Internet and social media, finds Wilder. "One is completely controllable by algorithms, by Artificial Intelligence." One clicks something and is then only fed more of the same. "One lands in a bubble." In conversation with friends and neighbors, for him, there has always been a rule: "No politics, no religion."
However, he does not fall into general pessimism because of this. "I have always been an optimist," says the actor from the Baltic Sea island of Fehmarn, who is known to German audiences as the doctor from "Das Traumschiff" or the insurance salesman "Herr Kaiser."
Wilder has understanding for Biden
Wilder hopes that the US election in November will go in favor of President Joe Biden. Anyone who stands on the side of Donald Trump is hardly reachable for arguments, the actor notes.
Biden may be over 80 years old and gave a poor performance in the TV debate. But: "He has incredible knowledge. Of course, he is an old man. But he has a wealth of experience. When you consider what program he has managed to complete in his age, then a bad day is absolutely excusable," said Wilder.
He recognizes, against the backdrop of problems such as climate change, the responsibility to do something and make a difference. "The awareness comes to me that I am grateful to have been born in the best of times."
He has lived by the principle of not taking himself too seriously and putting his own ego aside. But many people lack this, finds Wilder: Everyone wants to be right - and that even in the smallest neighborhood conflicts. "It's not about the matter, it's only about the ego."
Karl-May-Plays promote love and respect
The Karl-May-Plays fit well into this troubled time, according to Wilder's conviction. "I find the content of these plays here wonderful. It is a simple message that also historically reflects something." He refers, for example, to the situation of the indigenous population in his homeland Montana, where they have been assigned seven reservations - mostly unusable land. The governments have never kept their agreements with the indigenous peoples in the USA. "The Karl-May-Plays promote love and respect." Because that's what it's all about, says Wilder.
In Bad Segeberg, the 71-year-old plays the role of Emery Forster in the play "Winnetou 2 - Ribanna and Old Firehand." A man who thinks he stands above the law - even worse, that he himself is the law. The audience knows from Karl May that it won't end well for the equally driven and charming gangster.
Nick Wilder, currently in Germany for the Karl-May-Festival on Fehmarn, expressed his concerns about the increasing dissatisfaction in the USA. He has lived in Montana with his wife for over two decades. Wilder sees the digital world and social media as a significant factor, leading people to become controlled by algorithms and AI, creating bubbles of information. Despite this, Wilder remains an optimist, acknowledging Biden's knowledge and experience, even if his performance in debates was less than stellar. Wilder hopes for Biden's victory due to his understanding of responsibility required to tackle issues like climate change. Wilder believes the principle of humility and not taking oneself too seriously is often lacking, leading to ego-driven conflicts. He also highlights that the Karl-May-Plays, being performed in Bad Segeberg, promote love and respect, reflecting historical issues like the mistreatment of indigenous populations in the USA.
