Big Fire (Karl Valentin)
Großfeuer is a play (a grotesque , 1921) by Karl Valentin . It is also known under the title The Huberbäuerin burns . According to the author's accounts, the first performance took place in November 1922 in the Münchner Kammerspiele , although August 9, 1923 is often mentioned as the premiere date.
The one-act play exists in a sound recording with Karl Valentin himself. A television version was produced posthumously with Bavarian folk actors as part of the Valentinaden series. This is also available in an audio version.
Probably around 1940, Karl Valentin added a preceding first act to the piece. This was never performed, at least during Valentin's lifetime.
action
There is a fire in the Huber farmer's yard, but everyone involved, including the house owner herself, repeatedly undermines the urgency of putting out the fire. Finally, the fire fades into the background and the curtain falls because the fire brigade commander is ashamed to be photographed in front of so many people by a photographer who wants to capture the accident.
The farmer's wife is made aware of the fire in her house by a neighbor: “ Neighbor : Huber farmer, I have a secret to tell you. […] I have to tell you that, that's very important for you. - Farmer's wife : My God, scare me. Is the butter even cheaper in the end? - Neighbor : Well, well, that's not dangerous, give me a hand so that you don't tell anyone. [...] Well, the house is on fire. ”Calmly, the farmer's wife makes sure that there is really a fire, and is about to make her way to the fire brigade commander when he happens to come by. In conversation with the commandant about a fire in Gögging and one in Unterhaching , the farmer forgets her own fire. The commandant notices the smell of burning and it is decided to use the new steam syringe that is to be inaugurated that day immediately. While the commander goes off to round up his crew, a night watchman appears, who in turn notices the fire and gives the alarm.
After the arrival of the fire brigade, the commander gives a long speech at the inauguration of the steam gun. Then he tries to start the syringe with his assistant Wiggerl, which turns out to be difficult because he used the instructions for use to start the fire in the fireplace right from the start. While the team is laboriously working on the extinguishing, the photographer appears. The blazing flames are "stopped" on the roof of the farm so that his image does not blur.
Issues and comments
- Karl Valentin: Brilliant fireworks. Drawings by Karl Arnold. Hugendubel, Munich 1938.
- Karl Valentin: The confirmation. Volume 5. Pieces. Ed. by Manfred Faust and Stefan Henze in collaboration with Andreas Hohenadl. Piper, Munich 2007, ISBN 978-3-492-05045-6 .