Kasperl is buried in debt and runs away from the city. He believes that there is no other solution but to kill himself. But when the Devil arrives and drives him to hang himself, Kasperl realises that his time has not come yet. At this exact moment, gunshots are heard. The hunter, Hasenmajer, thinking that he was shooting a billy goat, almost killed Kasperl. In order to be forgiven, he invites his “victim” to the inn to get a drink. Spitzer, the school teacher, arrives at the inn with terrible news: a Turko has escaped from the convoy of prisoners. The innkeeper Krüglhuber refuses to believe it, but the waitress, Kathi, confirms that the Turko has been seen devouring a little child. Krüglhuber is terrified and demands that all doors be closed. The huntsman comes in and announces that he has captured the Turko and wants his reward, 400 gulden. The innkeeper accepts, but wants to see the prisoner first. Hasenmajer shows him Kasperl disguised as a Turko, locked in a cage. Krüglhuber is happy: he can announce that there is a new attraction in his inn. But Kasperl gets out of the cage and locks the innkeeper inside. The latter realises that the “Turko” is none other than his debtor. Kasperl offers him a deal: either the innkeeper agrees to forget about his debts in exchange for his freedom, or he will have to replace the “Turko”. Krüglhuber has no other choice but to accept Kasperl’s offer.

Not specified

Pocci Franz von

Germany

Munich

Printed

Debt

Devil

Hunting

Cage

Savage

Algerian infantry

Racism

Comical

Grotesque

Franz von Pocci, Neues Kasperl-Theater, 1873.

German

oder Ein Kasperlstreich aus dem Jahre 1870

Kasperl

Hunter

Innkeeper

Waitress

Schoolteacher

Apparition of the Devil

Disguised character (false identity)

Plot twist

Spectacular turn of events

Der gefangene Turko

The Turko prisoner

The Plumcake family arrives in Biskra. The wedding of their daughter, Miss Maud, will happen in the Sahara; however, their arrival in the oasis of merrymaking is delayed: they cross paths with a lion and get lost; a caravan comes by and saves the lost family. The spectacular ceremony can finally take place: the procession and dances begin.

Shadow theatre

Switzerland

Geneva

Printed summary

Orientalism

Sahara

Caravan (travellers)

Algeria

Party

Ouled Naïl (Algerian nomadic tribe)

Desert

Wedding

Dramatic

Maurice Potter, engraving advertising the Théâtre du Sapajou, 1896.