THE NUREMBERG DOLL.
(DIE NÜRNBERGER PUPPE.)
Comic Opera in one act by A. ADAM.
Text by LEUVEN and BEAUPLAN, translated into German by ERNST PASQUÉ.
This Operette, though almost buried in oblivion, has been revived by merit of its true comic humor, which is so rare now-a-days. The music is very simple, but melodious and natural and in Bertha's part offers ample scope to a good songstress.
The scene takes place in a toy-shop at Nuremberg. Cornelius the owner, has an only son Benjamin, whom he dearly loves, notwithstanding his stupidity, while he is most unjust to his orphan nephew, Heinrich, whom he keeps like a servant, after having misappropriated the latter's inheritance.
The old miser wants to procure a wife for his darling, a wife endowed with beauty and every virtue, and as he is persuaded, that such a paragon does not exist in life, he has constructed a splendid doll, which he hopes to endow with life by help of doctor Faust's magic book.
He only awaits a stormy night for executing his design. Meanwhile he enjoys life and when presented to us is just going with Benjamin to a masked ball, after sending at the same time his nephew supperless to bed.—When they have left Heinrich reappears in the garb of Mephistopheles and clapping his hands, his fiancée Bertha, a poor seamstress soon enters.
Sadly she tells her lover, that she is unable to go to the ball, having given all her money, which she had meant to spend on a dress, to a poor starving beggar-woman in the street.
Heinrich touched by his love's tender heart, goodhumoredly determines to lay aside his mask, in order to stay at home with Bertha, when suddenly a bright idea strikes him. Remembering the doll, which his uncle hides so carefully in his closet, which has however long been spied out by Heinrich, he shows it to Bertha, who delightedly slips into the doll's beautiful clothes which fit her admirably.—
Unfortunately Cornelius and his son are heard returning, while Bertha is still absent dressing. The night has grown stormy, and the old man deems it favorable for his design; so he at once proceeds to open Faust's book and to begin the charm.