The Kreuzelschreiber
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| Title: | The Kreuzelschreiber |
| Genus: | Comedy with singing |
| Original language: | German (Bavarian) |
| Author: | Ludwig Anzengruber |
| Music: | Adolf Müller senior |
| Publishing year: | 1872 |
| Premiere: | October 12, 1872 |
| Place of premiere: | Vienna |
| Place and time of the action: | Mountain village in Bavaria around 1860 |
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Die Kreuzelschreiber is a farmer's comedy with singing in three acts by Ludwig Anzengruber . The music for this was composed by Adolf Müller senior . The play was premiered on October 12, 1872 at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna .
action
place and time
The comedy takes place in the fictional community of Zwentdorf in Upper Bavaria in the mid-19th century.
first act
Image: Courtyard of an inn in Zwentdorf
The free-spirited large farmer von Grundldorf calls on the guests who are just present in the village jug to sign a resolution he has written, which is directed against the infallibility of the Pope. Anton Huber, the farmer from the “Gelben Hof”, is the first to put his “three crosses” on the paper to flatter his rich cousin. This breaks the spell, and the other farmers do the same. Only the old Steinklopferhanns and the young village boys do not allow themselves to be persuaded because they do not expect any benefit from the cause.
Second act
Image: Farmer's parlor in the "Gelben Hof"
Opposite the Steinklopferhanns, Anton Huber behaves as if he alone had the say on his farm. But when his wife Josepha enters the room, Hanns soon realizes that it is she who is wearing the pants. Josepha makes it unmistakably clear to her husband that he is no longer allowed to touch her. The pastor ordered all women affected to go on marital strike. They would only carry out their conjugal duties again when the men withdrew their “signatures” and went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Father.
Metamorphosis - Image: Parlor in the village inn
Old Brenninger is desperate. He has been married for 50 years and now his Annemirl is giving him the cold shoulder. For him life has lost all meaning. He leaves the room sad to throw himself into the torrent.
Farmer Altlechner is of a different blood. His heart fills him with joy at the thought of not having to see his wife for a few weeks because of a trip to Rome. When the Steinklopferhanns and the young fellows start singing songs of mockery about the cross-markers, the meeting ends in a big scuffle. Only Anton emerged as the winner, although he gave alcohol the most.
Metamorphosis - Image: In front of the "Yellow Court"
The Steinklopferhanns managed to drag the drunk Anton home only with great difficulty. After dropping him off at his front door and making his way home, he watches from a distance as the drunkard climbs through the window into his wife's room.
Third act
Image: In the quarry
After Anton has become a traitor to the matter, he seeks the advice of the cunning Steinklopferhann. He promises him to turn the messed up situation for the better, but asks that the other Kreuzelschreiber should also unconditionally obey his orders.
Metamorphosis - Image: In front of the "Yellow Court"
The Steinklopferhanns reports to Josepha Huber and her fellow campaigners that all the farmers affected have now decided to take the penitential trip. When the pilgrims' procession approaches, the peasant women can't believe their eyes: their men are not alone. You will be accompanied by young village beauties and will be in a good mood. The trip to Rome was supposed to be a penance, and now it is becoming a pleasure! In these circumstances, the peasant women think it better to bury the quarrel at once and to be reconciled with the men. It fills the Steinklopferhanns with particular joy that his plan not only wiped out the married women on strike, but also the bigoted pastor, so that in future he would no longer interfere in the family affairs of his sheep.
Remarks
With his Kreuzelschreiber Anzengruber has skilfully taken up the Lysistrata motif of Aristophanes and relocated it to rural Bavaria. By dispensing with black and white drawings of the characters involved, he has come closer to high literature. The Steinklopferhanns stands out as the best figure. He embodies Anzengruber's outlook on life, which opposes hypocrisy, superstition and exaggeration and advocates tolerance.
filming
The play was filmed in 1950 under the title Die Kreuzlschreiber .