The comet Halifax 712 is approaching Earth. In the absence of the astronomer, Kasperl, his assistant, makes a journalist believe that a collision is imminent. Sensationalist press spreads panic. Kasperl denounces the selfishness of the Minister, who only thinks about himself. He also mocks people for stupidly believing in what the newspapers say, hires a telescope from a passer-by in order to get a closer look at the comet and suggests ridiculous measures (spraying water towards the comet, sending a spaceship). As the comet approaches, Kasperl disguises as a Capuchin monk and hears the confessions of the Minister as well as those of the journalist and of a salted meat master. When they want to bring their wealth in order to redeem themselves from their wrongdoings, they realize that the comet has drawn away, but Kasperl explains to them that their belongings and their superstition will be the subject of many other plays.

Glove-puppet

Young audiences

Maticka Adolf

Austria

Printed

Science fiction

Disaster

Astronomy

Telescope

Panic

Sensational

Press

Credulity

Ignorance

Comet

Politics

Media

Enrichment

Comical

Satirical

Front page of Rote Kasper-Texte

German

Ein Handpuppenspiel in 3 Akten

Kasperl

Teacher

Journalist

Pork butcher

Change of social status

Deceived naivety

Disguise

Address to the public

Misunderstanding

Song

Hidden Object Lazzi

Der Komet

The Comet

The Wiseman Weitschuss has built a rocket to go to Mars. When Kasperl messes with the buttons, he accidentally causes the rocket to take off. He arrives on the red planet, where he teaches German to Martian Zweikopf, who brings him before the king. The latter wants to inspect the rocket and, pushing the wrong button, flies to Earth. The king is treated as an exotic creature and is exhibited at the zoo while the rocket returns to Mars. Kasperl escapes the vengeance of the Martians and returns to his parents.

String marionette

Not specified

Schuster Ludwig

Germany

Rocket

Glory

Mars Planet

Curiosity

Exoticism

Otherness

Communication

Journey

Hazard

Hunger

Accident

Couch

Fall

Fantasy

Didactic

Marionettenspiel in sechs Aufzügen

Father

Mother

Engineer

Tamer

Martian

Minister

Monster

Imaginary language

Plot twist

Comic equivocation

Flying machine

Apparition of a monster

Falling from hangers

Fake death

Die Fahrt zum Mars

Le voyage sur Mars

The plot takes place in 2080, on Earth - an utterly polluted planet on which live a little girl named Laetia, her sidekick dog, and Dragonis, her friend. Laetia enjoys stargazing, while her friend loves seeking remains of the past using a detector. Inside a meteoroid, they find an encrypted note regarding a treasure that could be found on a dead planet. Laetia and Dragonis decide to go after the said treasure. After many adventures on other planets, they finally get the treasure chest back thanks to enchanted phrases they learnt. When they return home, they find that the treasure is not gold, but rather seeds that will help making Earth a green planet again by growing trees on it.