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An Jedermann is an adaptation of the Jedermann material by the Tyrolean playwright Felix Mitterer .
The play was premiered in 1991 in the Theater in der Josefstadt in der Wien under the direction of Erwin Steinhauer . The title role was played by Helmuth Lohner . The incidental music for the premiere was composed by Werner Pirchner .
Mitterer updates the mystery play in a frightening way. Everyone is a general manager - unlike the original, however, married, and the lover is his secretary and lover. The piece ends openly: it remains unclear whether everyone will go to heaven or not.
content
For everyone, the general manager of an armaments company, the day of death has come. The Holy Trinity, God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit appear to hold a day of judgment for everyone. The devil wants to put everyone on the wrong track, so he moves into everyone's office and tries to interfere in the life of the general manager, with every decision everyone now follows the devil's advice. The devil saves the ailing company. Everyone experiences personal lows, their son is arrested for drug possession and his wife, Brigitte, commits suicide because everyone is cheating on her with his secretary. The layoffs lead to mass protests directed against everyone's leadership style. Everyone's birthday party takes place in the evening. During the festivities, everyone is harassed by the ghosts of his deceased wife, the debt servant whose company he bought that morning, and by injured children. The others present cannot perceive the ghosts and are irritated by everyone's behavior. So everyone gradually loses his composure, becomes enemies with his guests and finally gives his company away to poor neighbors. With this act everyone wants to steer his life in the right direction but it is too late. A little later he died of a heart attack.
Characters
God the Father: God the Father is an elderly gentleman. He is wise and always knows what is happening on earth. In an emergency, he always intervenes, as he does with everyone.
God the Son: He was sent to earth as Jesus and hangs this on the big nail when he is in everyone's office. He smokes, drinks and is contentious.
God Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is a disembodied and sexless being. He doesn't understand what people do to themselves and how they behave. God the Son likes to provoke by saying that this was a person.
Devil: The devil comes on God's behalf to give everyone a few tests. He appears as a consultant and calls himself a trouble shooter. But he is taking advantage of the opportunity to take everyone to hell. He gives tough instructions and has his fingers in the game everywhere.
Death: Death appears as an office servant. He's an old man who shows his age. He observes what is happening rather than intervening himself.
Everyone: The general manager is married and has an affair with his secretary Rita. He is a hard-hearted person who ruins others through the influence of the devil. The 50 year old has a heart condition.
Buoyancy: Rita is everyone's secretary and has an affair with him. She does her job conscientiously and is a good support. Driven by curiosity, she keeps a close eye on what everyone is doing in their office.
Everyone's mother: The mother is a worried old lady with bad dreams. She is afraid for her son, but doesn't know how to protect him.
Everyone's wife: Brigitte is everyone's wife and tries to kill herself.
Good companion: The Chancellor is a good friend of everyone. They go to sport together every now and then.
Poor neighbor: Anton is a soft-hearted person. The company is broke, everyone is buying it. The poor neighbor finally gets the company for free.
Debt servant: A sick man, has major health problems. In addition, his company and his wife are giving him difficulties.
Thin cousin: Primarius (head physician) Sebastian is also everyone's family doctor. He is between 30 and 40 years old.
Fat Cousin: Everyone's Uncle. He's a priest who has little idea of really helping people.
Mammon: The rich banker demands his money, but everyone's business convinces him, so that he gives out even more money.
Works: The 60-year-old union president is very angry that everyone wants to lay off many workers. He literally explodes when he storms into the office, but has health problems.