A very agitated Thor wakes up: his hammer disappeared during his sleep. He invokes the spirits of air and of light, and asks Loki to go look for it. Loki refuses; Thor loses patience and implores him to do it. Goddess Freyja intervenes; Thor relates his nightmare and the theft of his hammer. Loki mocks the story but finally agrees. He puts on Freyja’s feather dress and flies away. In the Land of Giants, the sovereign announces the incoming attack on the Land of Gods. Loki arrives, greets him, and mentions the decline of the Land of Gods, as well as Thor’s dismay facing the disappearance of his hammer. The Giant informs him that he has the weapon, but Loki remains sceptical. His doubts vanish when a dolphin emerges from the water with the hammer in its mouth. Loki insists and wants to get it back, and, in return, promises the Giant whatever he wants. As he is in a favourable position, the Giant accepts, on condition that Freyja becomes his wife. He grants the Gods a seven-day delay before declaring war on them. Back in the kingdom, Loki relates everything to Thor who immediately asks Freyja to accept. She takes offence, but Thor is adamant. To fool the Giant, the old Heimdallr suggests that Thor dress up as a bride and Loki as a bridesmaid, which would allow them to retrieve the hammer when the time comes. Thor is unsure at first, but agrees and praises Heimdallr’s wise words. Dressed up as women, Thor and Loki arrive in the Land of Giants where they are greeted with a spectacular feast next to the sea, with game meat galore. Loki improvises several lies to explain to the surprised Giant the bride’s gargantuan appetite and scary eyes. Unsuspecting, the Giant asks for the hammer to be brought to seal the union. Thor reveals his identity, and grasps his hammer as a thunderclap resonates. As everyone cheers, he puts an end to the expansion of the haze and glaciers and, to unite the earth and the Gods, he makes a rainbow appear.

Shadow theatre

Not specified

Wolfskehl Karl

Germany

Munich

Printed

Scandinavian mythology

Thor's hammer

Cross-dressing

Banquet

Comical

Burlesque

Epic

Reproduction of the silhouette of Emile Preetorious' giant (illustration from the Schwabinger Schattenspiele's edition of 1908)

German

Thor

Divinity

Giant

Opposite worlds

Dream

Messenger

Flying character

Spectacular turn of events

Aside

Thors Hammer

Thor's Hammer

Fasolino and his companions enter the stage singing a song about a goose that was stolen in a henhouse and cooked by the innkeeper Brighella. Sandrone expresses his anger, as his most beautiful goose has been taken; he suspects Fasolino to be the thief. He gets close to the place where Fasolino and the other characters are eating, and he hears them sing. Sandrone recognises Fasolino’s voice and asks Brighella to confirm that he is in the inn. Brighella certifies it and Sandrone lashes out on Fasolino, but Brighella goes back to serve his clients and advises Sandrone to watch his language.Florindo arrives with Arlecchino, who reveals to Sandrone that, during the night, Gervasa’s son saw Fasolino with a goose on his shoulders heading to Brighella’s inn with other people. Sandrone wants to call several people to punish Fasolino and his accomplices, but Florindo urges him to be careful because it would make him guilty and could force him to face a trial. Instead, he advises him to go see the Mayor and file a complaint. However, Sandrone does not trust justice, and his anger increases when he hears Fasolino loudly rejoicing to be eating the goose. Florindo promises to help Sandrone, and Arlecchino accompanies Sandrone to see the Mayor. The second act begins with Balazone’s monologue about the deposition of Sandrone. Florindo arrives and says that he is on holiday and, talking about various things, offers to attend the trial for the theft of the goose. Sandrone is questioned, and Balanzone puts him in a difficult position. He assures him that he has two witnesses, but Fasolino announces that he has fifteen or twenty of them, which, according to Balanzone, should make him win the trial. Arlecchino steps in as Sandrone’s witness, but Balanzone accuses him of having made a false testimony. Florindo reveals that he is the first judge and president of the court, declares Dottor Balanzone’s work to be unsuitable, and accuses Fasolino and his accomplices of having stolen Sandrone’s goose. He announces that a trial will take place. The play ends with a moral addressed to the audience.