Polichinelle and Pierrot, the survivors of a shipwreck which separated them from their troupe of comedians (made up in fact of other puppets), land on the Île des Fées (Isle of the Fairies). They are welcomed by a benevolent Fée (Fairy) who promises to help them: a Géant (Giant) will take them to Paris, where they are expected in their theatre. While Polichinelle runs to store wine in a cool place, Pierrot meets the Géant; he confirms that he is going to help them. The Fée makes a sumptuous feast appear for Pierrot, who is starving; she also introduces him to a young girl who wants to marry him. The Géant comes back to take Polichinelle, Pierrot and his new wife, and the whole troupe of puppets to Paris.

Rod and string marionette

Not specified

France

Paris

Manuscript

Fairy play

Giant

Journey

Shipwreck

Hunger

Wedding

Rivalry of theatres

Fantasy

Comical

Parodistic

French

ou Le Géant aux marionnettes

Polichinelle

Pierrot

Fairy

Mother Gigogne

Young woman

Pantaloon

Metadiscourse on puppet theatre

Sung scenes

Versified passages

Apparition

Final song

L'Ile des fées

The Isle of the fairies

Accompanied by his horseman Kasperl Larifari, prince Roseroth (Red-rose) is desperately looking for princess Lilienweiß. The fairy Liebinniglich appears in his dream and reveals that Lilienweiß (White Lily) was turned into a flower by the magician Negromanticus: it is a way for him to take revenge on the women who turned him down. With the help of the knight Hugo von Felseck–turned into a bear by the magician–Rosenroth fights and kills the dragon that was keeping the enchanted oak: a branch of this tree will allow Rosenroth to turn the flowers and animals back into humans. They all manage to enter Negromanticus’ garden, apart from Kasperl who is turned into a donkey. Rosenroth rescues the women that were turned into flowers, as well as Hugo von Felseck and of course Kasperl. The fairy Liebinniglich defeats the wizard once and for all, as he disappears amidst the flames.

String marionette

Young audiences

Pocci Franz von

Germany

Munich

Printed

Love

Knighthood

Idealism

Flowers

Garden

Astronomy

Animals, Mythical

Tale

Burlesque

Title page of the play in the original edition of Pocci's comedies

German

Die bezauberte Lilie

Prince

Kasperl

Knight

Magician

Bear

Dragon

Devil

Dream

Song

Animated natural element

Lazzi

Talking animal

Fight with an animal

Address to the public

Deus ex machina

Metamorphosis

Prinz Rosenroth und Prinzessin Lilienweiß

Prince Red-Rose and Princess White Lily

Princess Dana of Gurkistan is kidnapped and sequestered by the sorcerer Khalakuck and she must prepare him eight noodle dishes a day and clean his nose every morning. But after a year, the magician gives her a choice: either to marry him or be devoured! At this moment she discovers that the rocking horse that was in her room is none other than Prince Schaukelpferd from Spielzeugland transformed into a toy. With the help of Tziptzap, a magic tit (bird), they manage to escape from their prison, flying on Schaukelpferd’s back, which has grown wings during the night. But they are caught by Khalakuck. The prince knows that he only has three and a half metamorphoses left to win the final battle against the sorcerer. The tale ends with a triple wedding: the prince with the princess, the market gardener with the policeman, and Kasperl with Grete. The last couple was indeed already married, but marriage, according to Kasperl, is something you can never do too often.

Fühmann Franz

Berlin

Magic

Wonderland

German Democratic Republic (GDR)

Socialism

Freedom

Jail

Emancipation

Bird

Animal

Childhood

Sexuality

Society

Chickadee

Sorcery

Pickle

Children's game

Horse

Bans

Shortage

Economy

Majority

Adult

Castle

Market

Civism

Educational methods

Humorous

Satirical

Die Spucke in der Bütte auf der Schwelle

Policeman

Mrs Kasperl

Object coming to life

Magic act

Scene of recognition

Bawdy equivocation

Political allegory

Love story

Running away

Chase

Confinement

Das Spiel von der glücklichen Flucht des Prinzen Schaukelpferd vom Spielzeugland mit der Prinzessin Dana von Gurkistan aus der Burg des bösen Zauberers Khalakuck

The play about the happy escape of Prince Rocking Horse of Toyland with Princess Dana of Gurkistan from the castle of the evil sorcerer Khalakuck

In his theatre, Mimmo is both an actor and a puppet showman. He is the boss of all the characters and can play all the roles: he plays the Harpo, an 'oggre' (ogre). But when he meets Lili, a "fragile and seductive" little puppet, everything falls into chaos. He wants to hold her, manipulate her as he pleases, and even eat her, and swallow her. She wants to escape, be able to move on her own, or even become human. Little Kouki, "the puppet’s puppet", wants the same thing, but Harpo and Mimmo prevent them from escaping. The dolls' bodies are abused, forced and violently injured. However, Harpo is finally unable to eat little Lili, even though his hunger makes him scream in pain. The scary ogre has fallen in love. The theatre becomes the backdrop for a fierce and hopeless love story.