Following a brawl in the tavern, Kasperl tells his wife that he is becoming a misanthrope and is withdrawing from the world. He also leaves the role of the police commissioner. His misfortunes lead him to the European residence of the Egyptian prince Tamino and his wife Pamina, which is also the retreat of the aging magician Sarastro. The Moor in the service of the Queen of the Night, Monostatist (the Monostatos of The Magic Flute), helps Kasperl, who presents himself as a learned traveller, to break into the palace: he hopes that he will stir up trouble. The hungry Kasperl proves to be an extremely rude host, and the frequent visits of the Queen of the Night, which plunge the scene into darkness each time, add to the confusion. Sarastro is nevertheless prepared to initiate the so-called scholar into the mysteries of Freemasonry, but Kasperl mainly amuses himself by banging the gong and then stamping his foot on the lodge master's table: Sarastro forbids him to do so, they quarrel and Kasperl knocks him out, then runs away with the protection of the Queen of the Night. Pursued by Tamino's lion, he is narrowly saved by the hunter Thomerl, who shoots the lion. They then return home with their trophy, much to the amazement of the police. The Queen of the Night appears to wish the audience good night.

Young audiences

Pocci Franz von

Germany

Munich

Printed

Opera

Freemasonry

Magic

Music

Mother-in-law

Egypt

Orientalism

Beer

Tavern

Breakfast

Black

Slave

Lion

Bureaucracy

Misanthropy

Classical music

Hermeticism

Esotericism

Parodistic

Fantasy

German

Queen of the Night

Lady-in-waiting

Monostatos

Kasperl

Police Superintendant

Thomerl

Police officer

Allegory

Word for another

Talking animal

Song

Instrumental tune

Metatheatre

Address to the public

Light effects

Transforming scenery

Casperl in der Zauberflöte

Kasperl in the Magic Flute

Kaspar is picking flowers in a forest for the birthday of his wife, Grete. He catches Hubertus the hunter about to murder Schneewittchen (Snow-White) following the order of Schneewittchen’s own mother, the queen Tausendschön. Kaspar convinces Hubertus to let her go and suggests to the princess that she seeks refuge at the seven dwarfs’ house. However, when the magic mirror tells the truth to the queen, the hunter denounces Kaspar and hands him over to the queen. She then tries to poison Schneewittchen twice. As she attempts it the second time, Kaspar escapes from prison and seeks refuge at the seven dwarfs' home as well. Schneewittchen passes out before his eyes, and he shakes her so much that she spits out the piece of apple that was poisoned with pesticide. Learning once again from her mirror that her daughter has survived, the queen gets so angry that she dies. Schneewittchen then takes her place on the throne and, in the final act, begins to behave as tyrannically and capriciously as her mother.

Fühmann Franz

Berlin

Mother

Beauty

Vanity

Haughtiness

Power

Reign

Jail

Poison

Assassination

Doll

Denunciation

Corruption

Pesticide

Forest

Wealth

Fashion victim

Comical

Burlesque

Queen

Snow White

Hunter

General

Jailer

Valet

Guard

Mirror

Dwarf

Madame Kasperl

Intervention of the audience

Monologue

Murder on stage

Running away

Trap

Plot twist

Confinement

Das Spiel von Kaspar, der Königin Tausendschön und der noch tausendmal schöneren Prinzessin Schneewittchen

The play about Kaspar, Queen Thousand Beauty and the thousands of times more beautiful Princess Snow White