In Cassara, the Roman emperor Diocletiano wishes to kill all Christians. However, a Christian woman – Dorothea – lives in his court, and her father was promised protection by the emperor. The emperor’s most prominent warlords are Duosar and Theophil. Duosar is in love with Dorothea, while Theophil wishes to execute her for being a Christian. The ambitious Theophil feels looked down on by the emperor, who he thinks prefers Duosar, and he looks for a way to get rid of his young rival. When Hano the Moor tells him about Duosar’s scheme, Theopil believes that he is close to achieving his goal. Duosar means to save Dorothea and to join the Christian army. But the emperor does not want to let his favourite major go, and he considers another solution: if Theophil’s daughter, Antafolia, could convert Dorothea, the emperor would marry Antafolia, and Duosar would marry Dorothea. But after talking with Dorothea, Antafolia knocks down the statue of Jupiter, converts to Christianity and is killed by her own father. Duosar obtains Dorothea’s pardon from the emperor, but he is too late to prevent her execution. He then stabs himself to death. When it turns out that the Moor is the devil, Theophil calls for help and is rescued by a heavenly apparition. He is unstrung and converts. The high priest follows his example and adopts the Christian faith too, so do all the priests. Only the emperor still believes in his gods and begs them to send him a sign. When the execution room collapses, Diocletiano is disillusioned and kills himself using his own sword.

String marionette

Not specified

Germany

Printed

Miracle

Christianity

Paganism

Martyrdom

Ancient history

Saints

Conversion

Religious

Dramatic

Theaterzettel von Carl Eberle, Breslau, 21.11.1834

German

Das Opferfest oder die Zerstörung von Cassara,
Das unterbrochene Opferfest,
Die Zerstörung von Cassara,
Diocletiano oder Das Braminen-Fest,
Das Braminen-Fest oder die Zerstörung von Cassara

Diocletian

Commanding officer

Martyr

Moorish

Devil

Servant

Priest

Kasperl

Angel

Asmodeus

Monologue

Apparition of the Devil

Apparition of an angel

Disguise

Beheading

Metamorphosis

Murder on stage

Suicide on stage

Fire

Thunderbolt

Glory

Die Enthauptung der Heiligen Dorothea

The beheading of Saint Dorothy

Conrad, Mattéo, and Stella are in the catacombs. Conrad insists that Mattéo, the servant who accompanied them, leave. Once alone, Conrad forces Stella to swear that she loves him. She trembles in fear, and he thinks that it is proof of a lie; his suspicion comes from a letter he discovered, written by Stella for a certain Strozzi but that she never sent. In a fit of jealousy, he abandons her after cutting the thread that showed them the way out of the catacombs. Stella tries to find the exit, but she collapses in the darkness. A silhouette appears. Four years later, in an inn, Conrad encounters a stranger who seems to recognise him. The stranger introduces himself as Cagliostro, a friend who came to rescue him. He promises to see Conrad again on the day of his wedding with Mathilde de Sarnen, with whom he is in love. Before he leaves, Cagliostro gives Conrad a hammer, a mask, and a rose, and gives him a place and time. At the convent of Aarau, Mathilde de Sarnen asks the abbess Marie de Rudenz for permission to go and see her fiancé. When she discovers the name of the man Mathilde loves, Marie is incredibly furious and forbids their union. Conrad, wearing a mask, slips inside the convent and when he sees Marie, he recognises… Stella. She tries to clarify the letter that caused his jealousy, but Conrad says that he came here for his fiancée, Mathilde. Enraged, Marie threatens to kill Mathilde if he tries to leave with her. She assures him that everything obeys her in the convent, and proves her power. To stop her from ordering him, Conrad fatally hits her throat. The wedding between Mathilde de Sarnen and Conrad de Caldorf is to take place soon. However, Mathilde is suspicious of her fiancé and keeps her distance: she thinks that he murdered Marie. Cagliostro promises Conrad that he will fix everything. He pretends that Marie’s murderer has been caught. Mathilde is now reassured and feels more peaceful. Later, Marie’s ghost appears in front of Conrad. Terrified, he screams, which alerts the guests. Amongst them is the count Henri, who bursts out laughing because of Conrad’s fear. Furious, Conrad challenges him to a duel. Before the duel, the Nonne Sanglante (Bloody Nun)–Marie’s ghost–kills Henri and promises Conrad to find him on his wedding night. During the wedding night, Conrad sees the Nonne Sanglante sitting on the bed next to Mathilde. Frightened, he tries to kill Marie, but blinded by his fear, he fatally hits his wife. The Nonne offers him to run away after setting the building on fire to hide Mathilde’s murder. Conrad pretends to agree, but he locks up the Nonne in the burning building.