Puntila

Adapted by Peter Palitzsch and Manfred Wekwerth from the play 'Mr Puntila and his Man Matti' by Bertolt Brecht (G)

4S,2M,2A,9T,5B,4speaking roles,2non-singing roles; chorus;
3(III=picc).3(III=corA).3.Ebcl.bcl.3(III=dbn)-3.2.3.1-timp.perc-harp-cel-pft-accordion-strings;
On-stage:picc.2Ebcl-2tpt.2trbn.tuba-accordion-perc

Finland in the first half of the 20th century

Puntila is the master of an estate and a large forest. Puntila is a good master when he is drunk (which is mostly the case), and unbearable when he is sober (a state that he himself describes as an illness). Puntila cannot decide whether to sell his forest to get his daughter Eva a dowry, or to sell himself to the rich widow Klinkmann. When he pays a surprise visit to the widow very late one night, he makes certain discoveries that convince him he'd better sell his forest. Puntila proposes to four ladies who are early risers and invites them to Eva's engagement party on his estate. The sale of the forest comes to nought. Puntila suggests to Eva that she marry his new chauffeur, Matti, instead of Eino, an attaché, for this would be cheaper. When he is sober again, Puntila regrets his suggestion but Eva has already been in the sauna with Matti. Eino turns a blind eye to this – the dowry is more important. Puntila chases away his four brides-to-be, who have arrived for the engagement party. He also throws out the attaché, where-upon Eva refuses to go to the party. Puntila disinherits his daughter and swears never to touch drink again. To make certain that he won't go back to his old ways, he gets rid of all the remaining bottles by drinking them. Matti hands in his notice and concludes: "You´re not the worst man I´ve met – when you're drunk, you're almost human."

Comic, Tragic