
audiobook
Set in a bustling flower shop, this lively one‑act play opens with the bright, half‑rural voice of Nettchen, a flower‑seller, and her cousin Friedel, as they break into a cheerful morning song. Their duet is quickly joined by the bumbling servant Boks and the imposing Lord Mickelby, whose presence turns the shop into a stage for comic chaos. The dialogue is peppered with catchy refrains and playful exclamations, giving the piece the feel of a musical sketch as much as a traditional drama.
Soon the lighthearted melody gives way to a pressing dilemma: an elderly neighbor, Martti, faces a looming debt of seven hundred marks, and the young women scramble to find a way to raise the money. They consider pawning a treasured medallion, trading sentiment for survival, while their banter and songs keep the tension buoyant. The first act balances humor with a touch of social commentary, hinting at class contrasts between the struggling shopkeepers and the wealthy English lord.
Language
fi
Duration
~28 minutes (27K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
Finland: U. W. Telén & Co., 1897.
Credits
Tapio Riikonen
Release date
2023-04-22
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1833–1897
A hugely popular Berlin playwright of the 19th century, he wrote lively farces that packed theaters and captured the humor of everyday urban life. His comedies were among the most frequently performed pieces in Berlin in the second half of the century.
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