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.

Young audiences

Fühmann Franz

Germany

Berlin

Printed

Fairy play

Tale

Magic

Wonderland

German Democratic Republic (GDR)

Socialism

Freedom

Jail

Emancipation

Bird

Animal

Childhood

Sexuality

Society

Chickadee

Sorcery

Pickle

Children's game

Horse

Animals, Mythical

Bans

Shortage

Economy

Majority

Adult

Castle

Market

Civism

Educational methods

Fantasy

Humorous

Satirical

German

Prince

Magician

Die Spucke in der Bütte auf der Schwelle

Policeman

Kasperl

Madame Kasperl

Address to the public

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

Mademoiselle (Miss) Félicité, a foreign doctoral student, pays a visit to Morched – a master puppeteer – to buy his puppets. Her request is categorically denied because, in Morched’s eyes, puppetry is ancestral work. However, after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the authorities censored traditional Iranian culture and Morched is forbidden from practicing his trade. In spite of this prohibition, he decides to use his puppets one last time to tell the love story between Pahlévâne and Sarvé-Nâz Khânome, which will soon be made impossible because of the Mullahs, who support their friend Mobârak (“a mischievous servant”). Unable to destroy his puppets, Morched – just before he dies – decides to entrust them to Mademoiselle Félicité, who will be able to keep the memory of his work alive.

Actor and puppet

Not specified

France

Puppeteer

Puppets

Student

Love

Power

Transmission

Religion

Current events

Daily life

Political context

Death

Comical

Epic

Dramatic

Frédéric de Manassein, cover art for Mémoires d'une marionnette.