We visited the home of the reigning World Cup champs, Italy Germany Germany Germany in the 1730s. The text of this comedic operetta is based on a satirical poem by Christian Friedrich Henrici.
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This is the story of Lieschen, a willful daughter, Schlendrian, her father, and Lieschen’s addiction to coffee. Schlendrian is determined and desperate to get his daughter to renounce her coffee habit, but Lieschen is just as determined and desperate to retain access to her most precious drink.
Lieschen: Oooh! How the coffee really hits the spot, lovelier than a thousand kisses, more mellow than muscatel wine. Coffee, coffee I must have, and when someone wants to give me a treat, well, then give me some more coffee.
Schlendrian threatens to withhold all manner of privileges and favours if his daughter will not give up drinking coffee. She, however, is willing to suffer any consequence as long as he leaves her with her coffee.
Schlendrian: Girls that are hard-hearted are not easy to win over. But if one hits the proper spot, then one can come away lucky.
He plays his trump card. Lieschen will not be allowed to marry unless she swears to give up coffee. Lieschen thinks about this and promises her father she will indeed give up coffee in exchange for a husband.
Lieschen: Today, even, dear Father, get it done! Oh, a man! Truly, that suits me splendidly! If it could happen soon then at last I could have a real lover before bed, instead of coffee!
Schlendrian, pleased to have finally bested his daughter, leaves immediately to seek out a husband for her. However, Lieschen secretly lets it be known that: no suitor comes into my house, unless he has given me the solemn promise, and written into the marriage contract, that I will be permitted to make myself coffee whenever I want to.
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Moral: Don’t try to get between a woman and her coffee.
I keep saying, the Turks are the ones who really knew how to handle marriage and coffee [click here]!
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