Die Tugend auf der Schaubühne

Set in a bustling 1790s German playhouse, this short afterpiece follows a flamboyant Harlequin as he approaches the theatre’s director, Barthold, with a very public proposal to marry the director’s daughter, Kolombine. The dialogue opens with exaggerated bows and rapid repartee, instantly establishing a tone that mixes courtly politeness with far‑cical impatience. As the characters exchange witty barbs, the audience gets a glimpse of the theatrical conventions of the era.

Through Harlequin’s flamboyant antics and Barthold’s bemused authority, the work playfully probes ideas of virtue, marriage, and the economics of stage life. The cast—scant but colorful, including a mischievous Scapin, a practical light‑boy Peter, and the earnest Isabelle—adds layers of comic misunderstanding and social commentary. Listeners will enjoy the rapid, rhythmic language and the way the piece satirizes the pretensions of both performers and patrons, all while staying light enough for a brief, entertaining listen.