First
Class ~ A Hicks From the Sticks Hoax in One Act
One-act "farce" by Ludwig Thoma.
Translated and adapted by Alma Thieme.
Ludwig Thoma wrote FIRST CLASS in 1910. It debuted on August 12, 1910 in a folk
theater in Egern/Tegernsee. And then "debuted" again in Munich on March 4, 1911.
Alma Thieme has taken Ludwig Thoma's raucous romp and made it relevant for a US
public. She preserved the turn-of-the-20th-century setting, but action takes
place in rural Texas instead of Munich, Germany.
The bawdy, funny tale (PG-content, not R-rated) of the politician with a
self-inflated ego matching wits with a country bumpkin he deems "beneath" him
will keep your audience in stitches. Sometimes the dialog and action border on
the slapstick, and indeed, it would have found resonance with vaudevillian
performers. Nevertheless, the serious heart never stops beating, and Thoma's
patented folk wisdom wins out, as usual.
Nine players in all: 7 adult males, 2 adult females, and 2 smaller roles (junior
and senior conductor) that could be either male or female if necessary.
$10/script. Must order either 1 only for perusal, or minimum of 10 for the cast
and director.
Royalties: $50 for first performance, $35 for each additional performance. No
percentage of ticket sales.
NOTE: ABOVE ROYALTY AGREEMENT APPLIES SOLELY TO PERFORMANCES AT HIGH SCHOOLS,
COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, AND COMMUNITY THEATERS. ASK ABOUT AGREEMENT FOR
PROFESSIONAL THEATER COMPANIES.
Click here for standard information about
required rights and royalties agreement.
ISBN 0-9767183-5-9. Printed on acid-free paper. Comb bound.
Email or
write us for firm quote for your performances.
Morality ~
A Comedy in Three Acts
Three-act comedy by Ludwig Thoma.
Translated and adapted by Alma Thieme.
Ludwig Thoma came up with the idea for this play while jailed in Munich's
Stadelheim Prison in 1906 for insulting that city's "Morality Club" in the
political satire-zine SIMPLIZISSIMUS. The play debuted nearly simultaneously in
Munich and Berlin in 1908.
Alma Thieme has taken Ludwig Thoma's biting satire and made it relevant for a US
public. She preserved the turn-of-the-20th-century setting, but action takes
place in Houston, Texas instead of Munich, Germany.
The bawdy, funny tale (PG-content, not R-rated) of the local politician who is
also president of The Morality Club resonates with an American public tired of
false family values. Though the basic plot ~ of course the president of The
Morality Club is listed in the local Madame's little black book ~ is not new,
the "solution" to the problem is creative. And of course, funny.
Women come off well in Thoma's original play and Thieme's adaptation. The 'wise
old woman' is pivotal to the serious undertones of the opening discussion. Her
realistic (or cynical) approach to questions of morality reflect true family
values.
Nineteen players in all: 12 adult males, 6 adult females, and 1 teenage (or YA)
female.
$10/script. Must order either 1 only for perusal, or minimum of 20 for the cast
and director.
Royalties: $50 for first performance, $35 for each additional performance. No
percentage of ticket sales.
NOTE: ABOVE ROYALTY AGREEMENT APPLIES SOLELY TO PERFORMANCES AT HIGH SCHOOLS,
COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, AND COMMUNITY THEATER. ASK ABOUT AGREEMENT FOR
PROFESSIONAL THEATER COMPANIES.
Click here for standard information about
required rights and royalties agreement.
ISBN 0-9767183-4-0. Printed on acid-free paper. Comb bound.
Email or
write us for firm quote for your performances.
