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Die
Zauberreise in die Ritterzeit
Farce Parody in 3 Acts, with a prologue: present and past |
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Funded by |
Characters [Chorus]. Lady von Dukatenstein (the name means ‘ducat-stone’ in German) her nephew Geldsack (the name means ‘money bag’) go to see the fairy of the present, emerging from a six foot high letter. They ask the fairy of the present for help, because the folly of the family Sapprawalt is putting the spanner in the works of two marriages which have been arranged between Lady von Dukatenstein’s daughter Petronella and Simplicus Sapprawalt, and Geldsack and Eulalie Sapprawalt. The book of truth reveals that the family is convinced that the present has nothing to offer compared to the past – and indeed, Eulalie spends all her time reading novels about knights and feudal times. The fairy of the present decides to teach them a lesson by showing them what the past is really like. After a ball she places a spell on Eulalie, Simplicus and their father Polycarpus, sending them back in time to feudal times. [Chorus]. Geldsack has also been sent back in time, as he requested, but is disappointed to discover that Eulalie treats him just as badly as she did in the present. [song]. At first the family Sapprawalt enjoy living in feudal times. Ottomar the robber baron, asks for Eulalie’s hand in marriage, and to Eulalie’s joy, Polycarpus readily agrees, forgetting Geldsack’s claim. However the marriage doesn’t turn out as Eulalie had imagined – instead of fine clothes and feasting, Ottomar insists she concentrate solely on the housekeeping. On discovering Geldsack’s attempts to get close to Eulalie, Ottomar throws him into the dungeon – in spite of the money Geldsack offers him. Meanwhile Polycarpus and Simplicus win a tournament through the machinations of the fairy of the present, who is intending to teach them a lesson. On winning, they try to seduce the ladies handing out the prizes, bringing the wrath of the knights on their heads. Polycarpus and Simplicus do not understand the rituals of feudal times and end up being thrown into the same dungeon as Simplicus, where they are left to starve. All attempts to bribe the guard come to nothing, as he points out that he’s been promised their money when they die anyway. Finally Polycarpus and Simplicus realise the error of their ways, and the fairy of the present returns them all to the present. Delighted, Eulalie promises never to treat Geldsack badly again, and Simplicus is glad to marry Petronella. [Final song] |
The
Plays of Johann Nestroy. A directory of synopses prepared by Julian
Forsyth & Zoe Svenson. Funded by the Austrian Cultural Forum and Arts Council England. © Moving Theatre 2004 |