A painter named Schmierpinsel is at an award-winning ceremony. In his absence, Casperl, his servant, pretends to be the painter to a lady who wants to have her portrait made. Casperl takes a down payment, then paints a donkey’s head and hits the outraged woman with the canvas. Upon his return, Schmierpinsel is called at the police station. After his statement, the police chief, Karrnpichler, interrogates Casperl. The latter smears paint on the police chief's face before throwing him out.

String marionette

Young audiences

Pocci Franz von

Germany

Munich

Printed

Portrait

Painting

Originality

Genie

Cheekiness

Prestige

Stammering

Outrage

Drink

Wine

Beer

Interrogation

Tavern

Farcical

Satirical

German

Ein malerisches Lustspiel

Kasperl

Lady

Police Superintendant

Monologue

Song

Parody of formal language

Word for another

Brawl

Address to the public

Comic stuttering

Slaps

Casperl als Porträtmaler

Casperl portrait painter

Doctor Sassafras is pleased to have a client as hypochondriac as Steinreich. This rich and selfish man forbids his niece Marie from continuing to see his secretary Schreiber, whom he dismisses. Steinreich envisions a more beneficial match for his niece. Doctor Sassafras makes a deal with the devil to summon Death. Schreiber then attempts suicide, but a gravedigger saves him, as Death is detained in Sassafras’ enchanted chair. The Devil realises that his pact with Sassafras is detrimental to him and breaks their contract. Death comes fetch the doctor, who turns to God and hopes for His mercy. In the meantime, Steinreich converted: he has become charitable and, most importantly, no longer opposes Marie and Schreiber’s union.

Medicine

Knödel

Usurpation

Surgery

Wealth

Champagne

Misery

Forced marriage

Hypochondria

Vanity

Cemetery

Faust

Bible

Suicide

Sentimentalism

Religion

Comical

Pathetic

Burlesque

Title page in the original edition of Pocci's comedies

oder Doctor, Tod und Teufel

Doctor

Secretary

Death

Devil

Peasant (man)

Domestic servant

Gravedigger

Apparition

Dialect as a social marker

Versified passages

Allegory

Light effects

Pact with the devil

Off-stage voice

Philosophical dialogue

Final wedding

Doctor Sassafras