Saint Joseph and the Virgin Mary come on, looking for a place to rest. Marie is about to give birth to the Infant Jesus, but all the doors are locked. They exit the stage. The next scenery shows the Nativity scene with the Holy Family. A choir accompanied by guitar music announces the birth of Jesus and the arrival of the Shepherds, who have come to bring him gifts. They exit the stage when the Magi arrive. The latter leave the gifts and greet the child. The Choirmaster of the Angels initiates the Dance of the Angels and the play ends with a last song of praise, sung in unison.

Single rod marionettes

Not specified

Portugal

Borba

Évora

Printed

Crib

Nativity

Peasant condition

Religious

Lyrical

Satirical

Comical

Bonecos de Santo Aleixo: Joseph, Mary and the Infant Jesus

Portuguese

Joseph

Virgin Mary

Angel

Shepherd

Wise Men (Biblical Magi)

Melopoeia

Chorus

Board

Comical foreign accent

Comical regional accent

Kicking on the ground (sound effect)

Sung scenes

Auto do Nascimento do Menino

Auto of the Nativity

The only spirit which the magician Negrocephalus is able to invoke on that day is the rooster spirit of Gockelhahn. The spirit informs him that his wife, the Gackerackack chick, is hatching a golden egg, which he promises to bring to Negrocephalus. The tired magician goes to his cabinet and asks his famulus Putzlmayer to keep watch. However, Putzlmayer prefers having fun by doing magic, thanks to Negrocephalus’s spellbook. He too invokes Gockelhahn, who comes back with the promised egg. Putzlmayer gets scared after hearing a voice coming from the egg and informs Negrocephalus before fleeing. Whoever is inside the egg keeps asking to be let out, and Negrocephalus starts worrying too. He swears to the being inside the egg that he will not eat it before daring to break the shell with his magic wand. After a series of thunderclaps and lightning, Kasperl comes out of the egg.

String marionette

Young audiences

Pocci Franz von

Germany

Munich

Manuscript

Birth

Myth

Spirits

Wine

Donkey

Rooster

Magic

Sorcery

Learning

Faust

Laziness

Nonchalance

Cheekiness

Fantasy

Parodistic

German

Magician

Famulus

Cock, cockerel

Verschiedene Erscheinungen welche nicht zum Vorschein kommen

Apparition

Kasperl

Prologue

Spectacular turn of events

Magic act

Unveiling

Talking animal

Off-stage voice

Object coming to life

Address to the public

Versified passages

Pyrotechnics

Das goldene Ei

The Golden Egg

A voice tells Marie that she is about to be pregnant with God. Marie says a prayer to God, in which she expresses at once her shame, her pain and her sense of fulfillment. Then she greets Elisabeth, who praises the light emanating from her. Marie thanks her but she also mentions her pain and the tears she has shed. In the barn, Joseph marvels at the celestial voices he has just heard, and reveals his confusion at Marie’s state, who can miraculously see the star and hear these voices. A group of shepherds comes. Each brings a present (a toy, a jar of honey, bread) and leaves. Once alone with Marie, Joseph wonders whether he is dreaming. Gaspar, Balthazar and Melchior come in. They relate their journey and how the star has appeared to them, and they leave a present (incense, gold, an ornamented staff). Joseph still vacillates from rapture to incomprehension, and he praises their new-found wealth and Marie’s lit up face. But an angel warns them about King Herod’s anger. He advises them to flee to Egypt.

Shadow theatre

Bernus Alexander von

Annunciation

Visitation Festival

Light

Karl Thylmann, silhouettes and sceneries for "The Annunciation" in Heiliges Spiel.

Voice

Elisabeth (Mary's cousin)

Caspar

Balthazar

Melchior

Prayer

Instrumental tune

Procession

Heiliges Spiel

Sacred play

Joseph is in love with Mary, but she rejects his clumsy advances. Tchantchès tries in vain to help Joseph. The archangel Gabriel appears to Mary and asks her to go back on her decision. He announces that she will have son and that she will have to call him Jesus. Then Gabriel appears to Joseph and reassures him: he will not be rejected this time. Mary and Joseph leave together for Bethlehem. The journey is a long one, the due date is approaching, and Joseph is looking for a place to rest. Pierre (Peter), the owner of a restaurant, offers them to stay in the old stable behind his establishment. They gladly accept. Three Magi present themselves at Herod’s court: they have heard that the King of the Jews is born and are looking to bring him gifts. Jesus is born in the stable. Tchantchès and Nanesse congratulate the parents. The Magi bring him their presents. Later, Joseph learns about the emperor’s order – all the children under two will be killed. He is scared, but Tchantchès promises to help him. While Joseph and Mary are getting ready to flee, Tchantchès fights the knight who has come to kill Jesus and triumphs over him. Joseph and Marie leave for Egypt with their son.