Der Alpenkönig und der Menschenfeind

In this lively alpine fable, the mountain king Astragalus presides over a realm where mischievous spirits and human ambition collide. The play opens on the sunny slopes of a lofty peak, where hunting chants echo and the Alpine spirits descend, their horns bristling with freshly‑caught hares. Astragalus, a regal yet whimsical figure, delivers grand speeches about the balance between the lofty heights and the humble valleys below, hinting at a deeper moral tug‑of‑war between pride and compassion.

Below the craggy heights, the bustling household of the wealthy landowner von Rappelkopf provides comic contrast. His wife Sophie, their daughter Malchen, and a colorful cast of servants, merchants, and a young painter navigate love, greed, and misunderstandings amid the ever‑present presence of the mountain spirits. As the characters’ desires intertwine, the stage becomes a sparkling arena where magic, satire, and heartfelt humanity dance together, promising laughter and thoughtful reflection.