Der Weihnachts-Brief - Franz von Pocci

Printed

23 pages

Author(s)

Der Weihnachts-Brief

Franz von Pocci | 1861 | Munich, Germany
Genre (as defined by the author)
Kleines Drama
Characters
Frau Werner, Ludwig, Friedrich Walter
Number of acts
1
Note

Der Weihnachtsbrief blends sentimentality and social realism in the manner of the English novelist Charles Dickens, whose Christmas Carol (1843) had a huge international impact; and like Dickens' Scrooge, the little Ludwig in Pocci's play has only two books in his possession, including Robinson Crusoe. This Christmas play, quite apart from Pocci's puppet productions, nevertheless makes a small nod to the usual repertoire of Josef Leonhard Schmid's Munich theatre: for Ludwig's only toy is... a Casperl puppet.

Plot summary

Innocence and piety rewarded

The widow Werner lives with her young son Ludwig in misery: a sad Christmas is coming. To surprise her son, Mrs Werner goes out to buy a small pine tree and some apples. In her absence, Ludwig writes a letter to baby Jesus, asking for an illustrated Bible: he throws the letter out of the window addressing it to the angels. On Christmas morning, a package is delivered containing the Bible he asked for. The donor is Friedrich Walter, an old friend of the deceased Karl Werner: he has just returned from a long trip to the Orient and is inquiring at the police station about the widow's address, when some officers tell him of the amusing discovery of Ludwig's letter. Friedrich Walter takes the widow and child under his protection.

Related works
A Christmas Carol1843
Composition date
1861

First performance

Munich, Germany,

Münchner Marionettentheater

Publications and translations

Publication

Franz Pocci: Lustiges Komödienbüchlein, zweites Bändchen, München, J.J. Lentner, 1861

Modern edition

Franz von Pocci: Lustiges Komödienbüchlein 2, "Editio Monacensia", hrsg. von Ulrich Dittman und Manfred Nöbel, München, Allitera Verlag, 2007

Language
German
Literary tones
Realist, Pathetic
Animations techniques
String marionette
Audience
Young audiences
Licence
Public domain

Key-words

Theatrical techniques

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Written by

Jean Boutan