The mathematician Laensbergh is angry at his colleague Nostradamus for getting the seasons mixed up in his almanac. To take revenge on him, he joins forces with Aigrefine, the allegory of the previous year: she is jealous because Nostradamus abandoned her and fell under the spell of Follette, who represents the current year. The peddlers of almanacs summoned by Aigrefine abduct Follette and lock her in the dungeon of the castle of Gaillardin – a friend of Laensbergh. With the help of De la Pierre, Nostradamus releases Follette. He urges her to hide in the Observatory, but she is chased by Aigrefine, Laensbergh and Gaillardin. The four of them end up in an accident when crossing a ford; Follette comes back alone, with the help of Alix, Nostradamus’s servant. Nostradamus and Follette celebrate having gotten rid of their enemies. The play ends with a dance of the Four Seasons.

Rod and string marionette

Not specified

Taconet Toussaint-Gaspard

France

Paris

Manuscript

People and history

Almanach

Seasons

Cycle of the year

Mathematician

Magic

Breaking out

Accident

Parodistic

French

Nostradamus

Peddler

Love rivalry

Aria

Ballet

Incarcerated for his debts, Casperl is freed from prison by a small child, Capricerl, who is the guide of Fortuna, the blind goddess. While being pursued, Casperl finds refuge with Klaus, a hermit who reveals himself to be the Devil. However, Fortuna bet against Bios, the genie of life, that her gifts could make someone happy: Casperl will be her guinea pig. She repels the Devil and makes Casperl win the lottery. But the newly rich man is tyrannical and angry to the point of becoming sick. He goes so far as to miss the simple and modest life he once had, and curses his fortune. The goddess understands her defeat and brings him back to his normal self. Casperl goes to the inn.

String marionette

Young audiences

Pocci Franz von

Germany

Munich

Printed

Despair

Thirst

Destiny

Debt

Happiness

Blindness

Widower

Gas balloon

Jail

Philosophy

Grief

Latin Mythology

Bingo

Tavern

Fantasy

Burlesque

German

Kasperl im Schuldturm

Genie

Goddess of Fortune

Kasperl

Innkeeper

Old man

Hermit

Devil

Police officer

Verschiedene Erscheinungen und Verwandlungen

Apparition

Allegory

Monologue

Off-stage voice

Flying machine

Song

Apparition of the Devil

Versified passages

Pact with the devil

Word for another

Thunderbolt

Chorus

Story

Metatheatre

Metamorphosis

Transforming scenery

Address to the public

Slaps

Das Glück ist blind

Luck is blind