The Heideschuster

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Data
Title: The Heideschuster
Original title: Numbersuutarit
Genus: Peasant comedy in five acts
Original language: Finnish
Author: Aleksis Kivi
Publishing year: 1864
Premiere: September 24, 1875
Place of premiere: Oulu
Place and time of the action: Tavastland
people
  • Sepeteus , sexton
  • Topias , master shoemaker
  • Martta , his wife
  • Esko and Iivari , his sons
  • Niko , sailor
  • Jaana , his daughter, Topias' foster daughter
  • Mikko Swift
  • Kristo , a young blacksmith
  • Karri , farm owner
  • Kreeta , his foster daughter
  • Jaakko , clog maker
  • Sakeri , Martta's brother, discharged policeman
  • Antres , tailor and clarinet player
  • Teemu , violin player
  • Eerikki ( Eero ), aldermen
  • The host of the tavern "Halfway through"
  • Leenas Karle
  • Teemu's father
  • The old Anna
  • A woman in Karri's homestead
  • Invited and uninvited wedding guests

Die Heideschuster ( Finnish Nummisuutarit ) is the title of a five-act peasant comedy by Aleksis Kivi . It is one of the classic works of Finnish literature . It was first printed in 1864, and it was premiered in 1875.

Content of the comedy

first act

The actor Pentti Siimes as Esko in a performance by Heideschuster at the Finnish National Theater in 1959.

The master shoemaker Topias and his irritable wife Martta want to marry off their rather simple-minded son Esko. This should be done quickly before her foster daughter Jaana marries the blacksmith Kristo, because according to the legacy of an old corporal, 500 thalers are to be awarded to Esko or Jaana, depending on which of the two marries first.

Conversations between Topias and the farm owner Karri in the tavern “Zum halbe Weg” resulted in Esko being sent to Karri to free his foster daughter Kreeta. Immediately before the start of the journey, the village cantor Sepeteus visits the family of the heather cobbler to issue the appropriate marriage permit, although he knows and criticizes the financial background for the hurry. The driven Mikko Flink is supposed to accompany Esko on the trip to the bride.

In the meantime, Esko's alcoholic brother Iivari is also sent to procure various items for the celebration of the return of Esko and Kreeta.

Second act

When Esko and Mikko come to Karri's homestead, a wedding is already going on there. The wedding of Kreeta is celebrated with the wood shoemaker Jaakko. Esko's bride is getting married differently, which can be explained by the fact that Kreeta's father only meant the deal with Esko's father as a joke. Esko doesn’t show anything at first, but then gets into a fight with the violinist Teemu, who subsequently beats him up. Esko also insults his competitor Jaakko, who as a wood shoemaker is inferior to the leather shoemaker Esko. Finally Esko smashes the interior and then flees the scene with Mikko.

Third act

Esko's brother Iivari and his uncle Sakeri spent the money for the wedding feast on alcohol. Iivari now ponders how he can escape the wrath of his mother and the others, and his uncle has an idea: They would just tell that they were robbed.

Jaana's biological father, the seaman Niko, has returned and meets the jury Eerikki (Eero). He tells him about Jaana's fate, who after the death of her mother was placed in the care of the closest neighbor Topias and had to work hard there. In addition, her foster mother Martta wanted at all costs to prevent Jaana's rapid marriage with Kristo from losing her inheritance of 500 thalers. Niko immediately goes to see his daughter.

Niko has arrived at the tavern “Half way” and identifies himself to the host. The two overhear the also present Iivari and Sakeri, and Niko plans a prank. He wants to disguise himself as the wanted mugger who is said to have robbed a foreign count and for whose capture 700 thalers are exposed. He wants to be arrested by both of them and escorted home free of charge. Iivari and Sakeri fall for the trick, take Niko prisoner and set off with him.

Fourth act

After escaping from Karri's homestead, Esko and Mikko are on their way home. All the money has been used up, mainly because Mikko tied it up in such a way that they were constantly in inns. To avoid the consequences, Mikko wants to split up with Esko: He persuades Esko, who has never had alcohol, to have a drink so that when he returns it looks as if it is the drunken Esko's fault that she got all the money have got through.

Mikko meets Kristo, Jaana's lover, and tells him about the mishap on her free trip. So Kristo also learns that there is still time to marry before Esko and thus be awarded the inheritance money.

Esko meets Antres, the tailor who was sent to meet him. In his drunkenness, Esko acts uncontrollably and chokes Antres so much that Antres faints. However, he wakes up again shortly afterwards.

Meanwhile, Iivari, Sakeri and Niko, disguised as a thief, cross the way home, and in view of the outstanding reward for the alleged thief who was caught, they are all in good spirits again.

Mikko injured himself after breaking up with Esko and is supported by two uninvited guests on their way to Esko's wedding. Despite Mikko's protests, they make their way to the Heideschuster, because there is the cantor Sepeteus, who has medical knowledge.

Fifth act

The return of the sons is expected in the house of Topias. When they suddenly appear, they give an unexpected picture: Iivari, Sakeri, Esko, Antres and the tied up Niko are sitting in the cart.

The boys report on their failures, but present the collected “thief” Niko all the more proudly. The moment of joy is immediately clouded when Niko reveals himself and happily greets his daughter Jaana. Niko tells how he made a fool of the others. Since he is now present as a biological father, he can accelerate Jaana's wedding to Kristo with his consent. So the two of them will get the inheritance because Esko doesn't even have a bride.

Mikko is carried in. Sepeteus predicts that he will limp all his life, which is interpreted as a just punishment.

Overjoyed Jaana thanks Topias and Martta for welcoming them into their family, which even softens the heart of the strict Martta. Jaana also pacified the situation by deciding to split the 500 thalers and leave the second half to her foster family. Iivari regrets his drinking binge and announces that he wants to become a sailor. Esko decides never to marry and apologizes to Karri, who has since sued him, for the destruction. Martta quickly rededicated the wedding table that was originally intended for Esko and Kreeta, and so the engagement of Jaana and Kristo was celebrated with a lavish party.

translation

  • Aleksis Kivi: The Heideschuster. Peasant comedy in five acts. Translated by Gustav Schmidt. Dresden and Leipzig: Heinrich Minden Verlag 1922 ( full-text digitization at the German National Library )
  • Aleksis Kivi: The Heideschuster. A rogue game. Based on the translation from Finnish by Dr. Gustav Schmidt recast for the German stage by Robert Bürkner . [Adaptation for an open-air stage performance in Lübeck.] Munich: "Das Werk" Verlag und Vertrieb GmbH [1939].

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