Polichinell argues with Pierrot and beats him to death with a stick. Then he kills an infant whose screams were bothering him, along with the nanny – Gänsehals. Polichinell shows more affection for his kitten, but the cat almost chokes because Polichinell feeds him without restraint. The apothecary, who heard the cries, arrives; Polichinell kills him too, because he suggested that his hump could be a deformity that should be operated on. The superintendent Spürnase arrives as well to determine what is happening in the house, and ends up being killed too, just like the two police officers that came to arrest Polichinell. As for the executioner Knüpfauf, he is hung to his own gallows by Polichinell. Finally, the Devil appears. Polichinell fends for himself, and when his opponent thinks him dead, he gets back on his feet abruptly…and kills him with a single stroke.

Glove-puppet

Young audiences

Germany

Leipzig

Printed

Pickle

Nose

Hump

Funny face

Nurse

Insults

Noise

Serial murder

Gallows

Scatology

Legion of Honour

Farcical

The first of ten engravings on copper

German

Kleinkinderbuch

Polichinelle

Pierrot

Baby

Apothecary

Police Superintendant

Constable

Executioner

Devil

Prologue

Address to the public

Song

Blow-with-a-stick

Murder on stage

Hanging scene

Comic Equivocation

Der siegreiche Held Polichinell

Polichinell the Victorious Hero

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

Fairy play

Tale

Magic

Wonderland

German Democratic Republic (GDR)

Socialism

Freedom

Jail

Emancipation

Bird

Animal

Childhood

Sexuality

Society

Chickadee

Sorcery

Children's game

Horse

Animals, Mythical

Bans

Shortage

Economy

Majority

Adult

Castle

Market

Civism

Educational methods

Fantasy

Humorous

Satirical

Prince

Magician

Die Spucke in der Bütte auf der Schwelle

Policeman

Kasperl

Madame Kasperl

Metamorphosis

Talking animal

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