The widow Werner lives with her young son Ludwig in misery: a sad Christmas is coming. To surprise her son, Mrs Werner goes out to buy a small pine tree and some apples. In her absence, Ludwig writes a letter to baby Jesus, asking for an illustrated Bible: he throws the letter out of the window addressing it to the angels. On Christmas morning, a package is delivered containing the Bible he asked for. The donor is Friedrich Walter, an old friend of the deceased Karl Werner: he has just returned from a long trip to the Orient and is inquiring at the police station about the widow's address, when some officers tell him of the amusing discovery of Ludwig's letter. Friedrich Walter takes the widow and child under his protection.

String marionette

Young audiences

Pocci Franz von

Germany

Munich

Printed

Poverty

Reading

Education

Hanswurst

Kasperl

Bible

Childhood

Crib

Piety

Sentimentalism

Social realism

Christmas

Realist

Pathetic

German

Metatheatre

Monologue

Letter

Transforming scenery

Chorus

Deus ex machina

Der Weihnachts-Brief

Christmas Letter

After a terrifying stormy night, Saint Anthony goes out of his cave and into the fresh air to find some peace. Beelzebub orders Hurliburli to take advantage of this hustle and bustle to try and make the pious hermit succumb to one of the seven deadly sins. Meanwhile, Hanswurst, a lost walker, exhausted and starving, seeks refuge in the cave. To his surprise, his complaints are heard and his desires are fulfilled by the devils of gluttony, sloth, and lust. But, as he passionately embraces the devil of lust, who took the appearance of a woman, Hurliburli appears and drags him to hell. Anthony, back in his cave, sees Hanswurst who angrily relates his misadventures and the mistake of which he was a victim. Anthony greets him and thanks God for having protected him from the temptation of the devil by putting a poor stranger in his stead… To reward his faith, an angel appears and crowns the saint with a halo.

Shadow theatre

Not specified

Bernus Alexander von

Capital sin

Hermit

Storm

Descent into hell

Comical

Religious

Rolf Erik von Hörschelmann, silhouettes and set for St. Anton oder der Heiligenschein.