Casperl gets drunk with the hunter Thomerl and Thomerl offers to put Casperl’s wife Grethl to the test: Casperl has to fake an illness that will lead to his death, and Thomerl, disguised as a doctor, will come and certify the death. As soon as Casperl is pronounced dead, Grethl tries to console herself in the arms of Lieutenant Pulvermann. The fake dead man is resurrected, a fight ensues in which Pulvermann is killed and the corpse is taken backstage. A police officer comes to seize Casperl, but husband and wife join forces against the impetuous man, who is forced to give in to the violence. To celebrate their reconciliation, Casperl and Grethl go to the inn, where they also meet with Thomerl.

Not specified

Pocci Franz von

Germany

Munich

Printed

Marriage

Household

Philosophy

Beer

Wine

Gluttony

Doctor

Drunkenness

Clyster

Medicine

Grief

Chamber pot

Slap

Reconciliation

Tavern

Comical

Farcical

German

Ein beispielloses Spektakelstück

Kasperl

Thomerl

Madame Kasperl

Lieutenant

Police officer

Monologue

Macaronism

Word for another

Song

Spying scene

Parody of formal language

Aside

Fake death

Disguise

Dream

Brawl

Murder on stage

Dance

Die Prüfung

The test

Surprised by a downpour, Prince Alfred and his companion von Edelfels take refuge in Casperl’s household while Grethl waits for her husband to return from the inn. Casperl arrives in a very drunken state and immediately falls asleep. The prince, who had retired with von Edelfels to a nearby hovel, has an idea for a joke. He has the sleeping Casperl taken to a luxurious room, where he is treated with full honours. Soon Casperl does not know whether he is Casperl or Prince Schnuri... Pretending to be his doctor, Prince Alfred gives him a sleeping pill, and Casperl wakes up a few hours later in his old room. Von Edelfels, disguised as a magician, assures him that he is indeed Prince Schnuri, but that as a punishment for being a drunkard he has been turnt into a ‘dumb man’. Casperl finds Grethl and promises to make amends, all while announcing that he will drink many more litres of beer.

String marionette

Young audiences

Excessive drinking

Rain

Incognito

Joke

Aristocracy

Luxury

Sausage

Metempsychosis

Black

Magician

Political news

Otto von Bismarck

Moralische Komödie in drei Aufzügen

Prince

Moorish

Valet

Off-stage voices

Cross-dressing

Pyrotechnics

Board

Casperl als Prinz

Casperl prince

Don Juan tries to seduce Donna Anna, but they are spied on by her confessor: An argument ensues, after which Don Juan is carried off to hell by the statue of the Commander. The Devil returns in the guise of Donna Anna to take away the confessor, who has set his sights on the young woman. Then the Devil takes the guise of the confessor to seduce Donna Anna. Virtue, in the guise of a hideous woman, tries to warn her off, but Donna Anna still prefers to give herself to the Devil. The Fool concludes the scene by chasing away Virtue and inviting the audience, for this evening, to enjoy the pleasures of love.