The Broken Jug
Lustspiel von Heinrich von Kleist
Court date in Huisum. Judge Adam has to rule in case of Eve’s broken jug. Rupert, eve’s fiancé, is supposed to have smashed it. Or did something else happen? Kleist’s Lustspiel presents patriarchal abuse of power in its purest form.
On the day of the trial, Marthe Rull accuses Ruprecht. He has broken a jug in her daughter Eve's room at night. Bleary-eyed judge Adam, marked with wounds, is annoyed. His superior however, judiciary Walter, orders him to take the case. While Eve remains silent, Adam tries to adjourn the trial as a trivial offence. Soon, not only judiciary Walter is asking himself, wether judge Adam knows more than it seems?
The Broken Jug is a grotesque fight for the avoidance of truth. Bossiness meets despotism, stubbornness meets pedantic scepticism. Kleist's figurative and pointed language is infatuating to this day.
Duration
1 Stunden 30 Minuten
keine Pause
Age recommendation
14 and older
The performances with German Sign Language interpreters are kindly supported by Freundeskreis.
Begleitmaterial (.pdf; German)
German sign language explanatory video
On two dates, the play will be performed with German Sign Language Interpreters. The introduction will also be signed.
12 January 2026 | 7.30 pm - Tauberbischofsheim
19 March 2026 | 7.30 pm - Bruchsal
Introduction: 7 pm
The Broken Jug in simple language
There is a trial. A jug was broken in Eve's room. It was at night. Eve's mother says: Ruprecht did it. He must be punished. Judge Adam doesn't want to make the trial. He says: It was nothing. But is this true?
The judge's boss says: You must take the trial. Judge Adam has many wounds. Eve does not say anything. Maybe the judge knows, what happened, but he does not say it.
The play is about people who want to keep the truth hidden. It is about men with power, who abuse that power against women.
With introduction at 7.30 pm.
With German Sign Language interpreters.
With German Sign Language interpreters.
Cast
Directed by: Friederike Drews
Stage & costume design: Ev Benzing
Sound design: Georg Fleischfresser
Lighting design: Tilo Schwarz
Walter (Gerichtsrat): Thilo Langer
Adam (Dorfrichter): Frank Siebers
Licht (Schreiber): Tobias Gondolf
Frau Marthe Rull: Evelyn Nagel
Eve (Marthes Tochter): Laura Brettschneider
Ruprecht Tümpel: Martin Behlert
Frau Brigitte: Madeline Hartig