Prologus addresses the spectators in order to get their attention. Argumentator then summarises the story that is about to be performed. Jonas enters and expresses his fear that God might punish Israel for it has wandered away from God and it now lives in sin. God appears and orders Jonas to go to the large city of Nineveh in order to tell its inhabitants that they must repent in the span of forty days, for God is prepared to punish them. Jonas refuses and explains that he has already tried in vain to set Israel back on the right path. He embarks on a boat but a tempest threatens to sink it. The sailors look for Jonas, who is asleep in the hold, and they ask him to pray to his god to save them. They draw lots and Jonas is chosen: he advises them to throw him overboard for he might be the cause of God’s wrath. A whale comes and swallows Jonas alive, and the boat sails away. The whale spits Jonas out. He thanks God for having been saved. God reappears and orders him to go preach in Nineveh again, adding that he forgives whoever he wants. Samuel, a Jewish prisoner in Nineveh, laments his fate and the sins of the city. Jonas arrives and tells him about the mission God has entrusted him with - to exhort the inhabitants to repent if they do not want to be punished. Then, he tells him about his adventure at sea and how he was swallowed by a whale. Once at the gate of Nineveh, Jonas is stopped by a guard who enquires about his intentions and tells him about the great size of the city. An Epicure appears and declares that one must eat, drink and live in constant pleasure. Jonas, standing in a square of the city, and encouraged by God, shouts three times at Nineveh, announcing the destruction of the city in forty days, should its inhabitants choose not to repent beforehand. Mean children come to mock him, but they are reprimanded by an employee of the city. The Bailiff makes enquiries about the situation; he takes Jonas’ prophecy seriously and orders the inhabitants of the city to repent and pray. Two peasants appear. One of them believes in Jonas' prediction, while the other does not. The same contrast is found between two virgins, and then two worried nobles. A big gourd seedling grows above Jonas to protect him from the burning sun. The Chancellor and the King arrive and they reflect on what they should do. The king decides to issue an edict which would force his subjects to repent, then gives up on his royal insignia, dons a sackcloth, and sprinkles ashes on himself in order to expiate his sins. On the fortieth day, the King presents himself before God who forgives them, moved by the sincerity of the repentance of the inhabitants of Nineveh. Jonas is angry about this turnaround, but he eventually submits to the divine decision. The play ends with an address to the audience which builds a link between Nineveh’s sins and those of the present, assuring that God will also forgive anyone who repents.

Not specified

Germany

Augsburg

Printed

Disobedience

Miracle

Prophecy

Threat

Forgiveness

Religious

Fantasy

German

Ein lustigs, auch kurtzes, und nicht minder nutzes Spiel von der Bußpredigt Jona des Propheten zu Ninive, Und wie alles Volck der Stadt, seinen Worten glaubt, und ernstliche Buß gethan habe

God (monotheism)

Sailor

Prisoner

Guard

Peasant (man)

Virgin

Chancellor

King

Play in verse

Monologue

Apparition of a god

Boat mounted on wheels

Apparition of a monster

Oration

Metamorphosis

Jonas

Aurélia and Eularia’s guardian, Scaramouche, has imprisoned them because he would like to get hold of their belongings and marry Eularia. Cinthio and Octave, with the help of Arlequin and Trivellin, set up a series of ploys to see the two girls. One of those ploys consists in a curiosité show. They pressure Scaramouche into forsaking his ambitions. The third act is set at the Foire Saint-Germain. There, Arlequin disguises himself as the puppeteer Brioché and performs several magic tricks.

France

Paris

Printed summary

Animated object

Tutor

Wedding

Fair

Chimney sweep

Enema

Magic tricks

Toothpulling

Infant

Comical

French

Il regalo delle dame

Scaramouche

Cintio

Arlecchino

Octavian

Trivelin

Brioché

Moor

Blind

Marquis

Tooth Puller

Mask (masked type)

Judge

Chimney sweeper

Theatre within the theatre

Magic act

Disguise

Imbroglio

Misunderstanding

Lazzi

Word for another

Le Régal des dames

The ladies' Treat

The shepherdess Philis is loved by Silvandre, whom she loves in return, but she is also courted by Microton. Dorine promises Philis that she will ask the magician Orcan to calm Microton's ardour. Surprising Philis and Silvandre's love dialogue, Microton calls on Orcan to take revenge on Silvandre and force Philis to love him. Orcan performs various magic tricks. He has prepared the potion, but Microton refuses to go and thank the demons. Orcan tries to seduce Elise, who rejects him. Philis reveals to Silvandre that Microton has played the role of a guardian for her. The god of love appears and promises to help Silvandre. Elise convinces Orcan to support Silvandre and Philis' love and to cure Microton of his madness. Orcan forces Microton to go and see the Demons; il conjures up Goblins, Serpents, a Dragon, Demons that frighten Microton and make him give up Philis. Microton announces that he will devote himself only to his flock. Orcan laughs at him. Microton gets angry, but he realises that he has been magically cured of his love for Philis and joins the wedding banquet. Microton wants to eat some of the dishes, but they turn into snakes and toads. The appearance of demons makes Microton run away. Shepherds and shepherdesses sing and dance.

La Grille (Dominique de Normandin, aka Sieur de La Grille)

Rivalry in love

Magic

Animals, Mythical

Unwelcome seducer

ou les charmes d'Orcan

Hunter

Sheperherdess

Devil

Statue

Gardener

Magician

Love

Bohemian woman

Goblin

Snake

Dragon

Caterer

Shepherd

Apparition

Les Amours de Microton

Microton's Loves

Leandro (Leander) meets Hero while she is working in Venere’s (Venus’s) temple: it is love at first glance for the two of them, and their love story develops according to chivalric standards. The romantic dialogue finds an echo in the more prosaic duo between Lesbia and Millo, the two servants. When Hero, faithfully devoted to the goddess, refuses herself to Leandro, he grabs her coat and rips it. She begs him to spare her honour and declares her love before she decides, driven by passion, to die in the breast of her new divinity. Arbace and his suite of singing hunters cross the stage. Lucilla, the fickle lover of Tigrane, placed by the latter in the care of Leandro, tries to seduce Leandro and fails. The first act ends on a burlesque note, with Millo followed by a choir of seamen singing and smoking. Arbace, who fell in love with Lucilla, is helped by Giocasta (Jocasta): she organises a (rigged) love game, for Tigrane and his lover. The game consists in proving one’s faithfulness by blindly finding a sign of love. While her lover is blindfolded, Lucilla can enjoy Arbace’s kisses. Then she pretends to have won the game and dismisses her lover; Giocasta is amused by women’s cunning. In the meantime, Hero, dressed as a gypsy, puts Leandro’s faithfulness to the test. Seeing Millo, she predicts that he will have a blissful future if he presents her at Court: introduced as a great magician to Lucilla, she is entrusted with the writing of a lover letter intended for Leandro. Arbace understands that his new lover has betrayed him, and Tigrane is sorrowful. Lucilla dances with her suite at the very end of the act. While Leandro is desperately looking for Hero, the latter, disguised as a gypsy, gives him Lucilla’s letter. She is convinced of his good faith because he rips the letter before even reading it. Leandro decides to join his beloved at night by crossing the water; Hero plans on waiting for him on the neighbouring beach. Unfortunately, Lucilla overhears the conversation between the lovers and asks Arbace to avenge her and to kill Hero. At night, Leandro is about to drown. On her cloud, Venere summons the choir of Nereidi (Nereids) and asks them to save him and take him up in the sky. Arbace wants to hit Hero, who is anxiously waiting for her lover; he kills Lucilla while Hero transforms into Leandro’s plant (oleander). While Lucilla is dying, paying the price of her wrongdoing, the lovers reunite in Elysium, by Venere’s side.

Badovero Camillo

Italy

Venice

Jealousy

Gipsy woman

Deception

Drowning

Venus (Goddess)

Ovid

Lyrical

Heroic

Tragic

Farcical

Italian

Gli amori fatali

Lord

Favourite

Léandre

Priestess

Hero (priestess)

Chaperon

Lover (woman)

Secretary

Lover (man)

Nurse

Servant

Venus

Bridesmaid

Nereids

Love story

Thwarted love

Music

Seduction scene

Undressed character on stage

Erotic scene

Love rivalry

Dancing entertainment

Interlude

Smoke

Wandering

Disguised character (false identity)

Investigation

Hunting scene

Scene in the dark

Night scene

Deus ex machina

Clouds

Ascent to heaven

Flying machine

Il Leandro

Leander

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

Christianity

Paganism

Martyrdom

Ancient history

Saints

Conversion

Dramatic

Theaterzettel von Carl Eberle, Breslau, 21.11.1834

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

Priest

Kasperl

Angel

Asmodeus

Apparition of the Devil

Apparition of an angel

Beheading

Murder on stage

Suicide on stage

Fire

Thunderbolt

Glory

Die Enthauptung der Heiligen Dorothea

The beheading of Saint Dorothy

Teodosio (Theodosius, Emperor of Constantinople) welcomes Marciano’s army. Marciano is returning victorious from the Persian Empire, and he is bringing back Ariene, the fiancée of Varane (king of Persia). Teodosio asks that Ariene be released, and he offers her peace; but the Queen is too proud. Atenaide, a young Greek woman devoted to philosophy, hesitates between coming back to Athens and staying with the Emperor: although she loves him, she fears that their respective statuses are too different. Varane arrives at court in disguise. He befriends Atenaide and expresses jealousy at Teodosio being generous with his wife. Pulcheria welcomes Marciano, whom she loves. Teodosio is jealous of Atenaide and Varane. When Teodosio accepts Ariene’s gift—she gave him fruit to thank him for his generosity—Varane, who is watching them, believes that they are having an affair. Atenaide believes so too. To reassure Atenaide, Teodosio gives her the fruit, which she gives Varane in turn, since the stranger insisted on it. Atenaide’s companion, Acrisia, reveals to Eridione, Ariene’s servant, a miraculous fountain that changes into a dragon. She gives him a dance lesson, which introduces the interlude. Marciano is watching out for Varane on the shore. He witnesses Varane and Ariene reuniting. Since Marciano wishes to catch his enemy, whom he has recognised, the Queen steps in to protect her husband. But Varane orders her to leave. After refusing Marciano’s peace proposal, Varane is defeated. Teodosio offers peace again; Varane rejects it another time. As the Emperor is reading Costantino’s story in the library, Ariene arrives. Atenaide watches them with jealousy. Ariene and Teodosio believe that their lovers have betrayed them. Finally convinced that Teodosio loves her, Atenaide is also suspected of unfaithfulness, since she cannot give back the fruit which her husband gifted her. Atenaide manages to convince Ariene of Varane’s faithfulness; and Acrisia promises to fix the situation. She makes four pages appear in the library, then she gives Eridione an astrology lesson; Eridione is taken into the air on a cloud. The tables of the library change into nymphs; they begin to dance. Pulcheria reproaches her brother for his unchristian jealousy, and commands him to stop seeing Atenaide. Ariene and Varane reconcile and knock down Teodosio’s statue. The Emperor dismisses Atenaide. He hesitates over putting his enemy to death, but eventually decides to be consistent: he spares Varane’s life and offers him a throne. Faced with such generosity, Varane is vanquished. Teodosio’ wedding is being prepared. Teodosio despairs at the thought of never seeing Atenaide again. Pulcheria summons the new bride, who turns out to be Atenaide calling herself Eudocia. The Emperor and the young Greek woman celebrate their wedding at the same time as Pulcheria and Marciano.

Ottoboni Pietro

Rome

Constantinople

Captives

Constancy

Regency

Edifying

Laudatory

Pietro Ottoboni, Teodisio il Giovane, 1711 (central engraving)

Theodosius

Emperor

Pulcheria

Sister

General

Lady-in-waiting

Wife

Procession

Magic spell

Flying character

Plot scene

Duel scene

Change of social status

Final wedding

Teodosio il Giovane

Theodosius the Young

Momus wakes up the Olympian Gods. After quarrelling several times and playing a few games, Jupiter promises that he will find him a wife; but the gods must flee the Giants, who have attacked them. Jupiter and Momus arrive incognito among humans who come to them complaining about their lot. Silène’s (Silenus’) donkey drives the Giants away. After going back to Olympus, Jupiter suggests that Momus marries Diane (Diana), Melpomène (Melpomene), Thalie (Thalia), and then the Foire (Fair).

Jonas

Ein lustigs, auch kurtzes, und nicht minder nutzes Spiel von der Bußpredigt Jona des Propheten zu Ninive, Und wie alles Volck der Stadt, seinen Worten glaubt, und ernstliche Buß gethan habe

Le Régal des dames

Les Amours de Microton

ou les charmes d'Orcan

Il Leandro

Die Enthauptung der Heiligen Dorothea

Teodosio il Giovane

Le Mariage de Momus

ou la Gigantomachie

L'Endriague

La Grand-Mère amoureuse

Parodie d'Atys

Os Encantos de Medeia