Der zerbrochene Krug

The premiere of Heinrich von Kleist's comedy 'The Broken Jug', which took place under the direction of Johann Wolfgang Goethe in 1808 at the Court Theatre in Weimar, was a failure; it wasn't until 1820 that the play conquered the stages. 'The Broken Jug' is the comedy about the village judge Adam, who is forced to sit in judgment over his own misdeeds. The play thrives on its rapid dialogues and vibrant characters, foremost among them the village judge himself. Only Kleist's humor, his wit with language, and the conciliatory ending of the play prevent the comedic material from turning into a tragedy, as ultimately the play deals with trust and the abuse of trust. The "Jug" is a masterpiece of comedy and is one of the most frequently performed plays on German-speaking stages.

Text in new spelling - With notes by Helmut Sembdner and an afterword.