Three pairs of shoes
| Work data | |
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| Title: | Three pairs of shoes |
| Original title: | Three pairs of shoes |
| Shape: | operetta |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | Jean Gilbert |
| Libretto : | Jean Kren , lyrics by Alfred Schönfeld |
| Premiere: | 1915 |
| Place of premiere: | Berlin |
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Three pairs of shoes is an operetta by the composer Jean Gilbert , the libretto was created by Jean Kren (lyrics by Alfred Schönfeld ) based on the literary model by Carl Görlitz . The work was premiered in Berlin in 1925 . As early as 1871, three pairs of shoes in an arrangement by Alois Berla and with music by Carl Millöcker were premiered in the Theater an der Wien .
action
- Act 1 - Flink shoe store
Lorenz Flink loves his wife Lenchen and she loves him too, but secretly she longs for one of the “noble gentlemen” from her novels. Flink is considered a henpecked hero, but for the sake of peace he wants to heal his wife from these airs.
He asks Lenchen to deliver three pairs of shoes: one to the rich Frau Häsecke, one to the operetta diva Wanda and the last to Suschen Bullerjahn at the “Zur Roten Rose” cabaret. Lenchen happily takes over the extradition, as she hopes to gain insights into those circles that she considers so desirable.
- Act 2 - garden salon with August Häsecke
Lenchen recognizes her former friend Leni in the rich Frau Häsecke. The joy of seeing each other did not last long, as Leni Häsecke immediately spoke of her troubles: She had a little affair with Baron Wunibald von Nachtfalter, and when she ended it, she asked for her letters back. The baron wants to bring them over today because he hopes for a lot through a personal conversation. Leni is now terrified that her husband and the baron might meet, but Lenchen promises to help and to receive the baron in her place.
When August Häsecke comes home, Lenchen confuses him with the expected baron and unintentionally reveals his wife's affair. In the meantime Lorenz Flink has arrived at Häseckes', worried about his wife. In the prevailing excitement, he considers August Häsecke to be the lover of his Lenchens. When he found out about the Baron and Leni, he was able to restore Häsecke's happiness through a spontaneously invented story.
- 3 act salon with Wanda Ringler
Lenchen actually finds the life of a celebrated operetta singer even more beautiful and interesting than that of the Häsecke. The singer is supposed to get engaged to a baron today. She actually loves Ignaz Käshofer, but because of an aristocratic name and the opportunities offered by court life, she dumped him.
When the fiancé arrives, Lenchen recognizes him as Baron Wunibald von Nachtfalter, her friend's ex-lover. She learns from the housemaid that there is a contract that grants the person 75,000 marks if the partner breaks the engagement. When Wanda realizes that the impoverished baron is only after her fortune, Lenchen and her husband Lorenz also help here. With a drastic comedy they urge the baron to voluntarily resign, and when the invited guests arrive, Wanda takes heart and becomes engaged to Ignaz Käshofer.
- 4th act - Cabaret "To the red rose"
Lenchen, accompanied by her husband, brings the last pair of shoes to Suschen Bullerjahn's cabaret “Zur Roten Rose”. Suschen does not belong to the Demimonde; she is twelve years old and an orphan. Through her uncle August Häsecke, she found a job in the cabaret's kitchen. There she regularly visits her uncle in order to secretly - as he has learned to do - to stand by the baking trough again.
Suddenly Leni appears, who suspects Suschen to be her husband's lover. Lorenz Flink arranges a guest appearance for his wife. During the appearance of his Lenchens, Lorenz Flink flirts with all the ladies present and makes Lenchen very jealous. Suddenly an apprentice Flinks appears and reports on the severe toothache of Lenchen and Lorenz's youngest son. Lenchen immediately breaks off her vocal performance and rushes home with Lorenz. Now she has come to the realization that "the happiness of a mother and a dear husband are worth more than the sham happiness of the big world!".
literature
- Carl Görlitz: Three pairs of shoes. Life picture with singing in three sections plus prelude . Bloch, Berlin s. a.
- Leo Melitz: Guide through the operettas . Globus-Verlag, Berlin 1914, pp. 35–37.