A Soldat (soldier) wakes Polichinelle up: everyone is waiting for him to launch an attack on Philippsbourg. Cannons fires frighten Polichinelle, but a Vivandière (women sutlers or canteen keepers) brings him some eau de vie to comfort him. Pierrot, who was mistaken for a spy, is interrogated by a Sergent (Sergeant): he threatens to have him hanged. As he is being led into a trench, the town surrenders. The play ends with a divertissement and a vaudeville.

Rod and string marionette

Not specified

Carolet Denis

France

Paris

Manuscript

Fear

Military life

Comical

Satirical

Manuscript of La Prise de Philisbourg, Bibliothèque nationale de France.

French

Polichinelle

Soldier

Vivandière

Canteen worker

Pierrot

Sergeant

Trumpet (military man/woman)

Aria

Dancing entertainment

Final song

Misunderstanding

Hanging scene

La Prise de Philisbourg

The Capture of Philisbourg

The tailor Hanswurst is trying to become a spy to arrest the infamous outlaw Schinderhannes. However, he ends up becoming part of the band of outlaws and helps his partners break into the town, which they plunder. Outlaws relate that they have robbed Jewish shopkeepers. Military officials begin to chase Schinderhannes; fights break out. Schinderhannes runs away with his lover Julie. He repents his crimes and protects his future bride, who is crossing the woods with a dowry of 300 Gulden. He even kills an outlaw from his own band to punish him for gratuitous violent acts. Hanswurst is arrested by a French constable for having stolen a farmer’s pigs. Their difficulty to communicate, as they speak two different languages, leads to many amusing misunderstandings. Hanswurst manages to flee and then betrays his leader, who is finally caught by the soldiers.

String marionette

Trained animal

Geisselbrecht Johann Georg

Germany

Frankfurt

Printed

Robber

Antisemitism

Nationalism

Failure of language

Dramatic

German

Der große Räuber am Rhein

Julie Blasius

Mayor

Guard

Peasant (female)

Peasant (man)

Porcher

Constable

Recruiter

Tailor

Hanswurst

Address to the public

Monologue

Song

Comical foreign accent

Inn scene

Entering with vehicle

Schinderhannes