Amadeus Page #47

The book of the opera, furnished with two copperplates, of

which is engraved Herr Schikaneder in the costume he wears

for the role of Papageno, may be had at the box office for

30 kr.

Prices of admission are as usual To begin at 7 o'clock

INT. STAGE, AUDITORIUM AND WINGS OF SCHIKANEDER'S THEATRE -

NIGHT -1790'S

We CUT TO the scene immediately before Papageno's song, Ein

Madchen oder Weibchen. Papageno, played by Schikaneder,

dressed in his costume of feathers, is trying to get through

a mysterious door. A voice calls from within.

VOICE:

Go back!

Papageno recoils.

PAPAGENO:

Merciful Gods! If only I knew by

which door I came in.

(to audience)

Which was it? Was it this one? Come

on, tell me!

VOICE:

Go back!

Papageno recoils.

PAPAGENO:

Now, I can't go forward and I can't

go back. Oh, this is awful!

He weeps extravagantly.

In the pit, Mozart indicates to the first violinist to take

over as conductor. He slips from his place and goes stealthily

backstage. We follow him. Over the scene we hear Papageno

being addressed by the First Priest in stern tones.

FIRST PRIEST:

(on stage)

Man, thou hast deserved to wander

forever in the darkest chasms of the

earth. The gentle Gods have remitted

thy punishment, but yet thou shalt

never feel the Divine Content of the

consecrated ones.

PAPAGENO:

Oh well, I'm not alone in that. Just

give me a decent glass of wine -

that's divine content enough for me.

Laughter. An enormous goblet of wine appears out of the earth.

We follow Mozart into the wings. Actors and actresses stand

around in fantastic costumes. We see a flying chariot and

parts of a huge snake lying about. Also the scenery door of

a temple with the word 'Wisdom' inscribed on the pediment.

Mozart walks to where there stands a keyboard glockenspiel

with several manuals, and a musician waiting to play it.

Silently Mozart indicates that he wishes to play the

instrument himself.

On stage Schikaneder is being addressed haughtily by the

First Priest.

FIRST PRIEST:

Man, hast thou no other desire on

earth, but just to eat and drink?

PAPAGENO:

(Schikaneder)

Well!

Laughter from the audience.

PAPAGENO:

Well, actually I do have a rather

weird feeling in my heart. Perhaps

it's just indigestion. But you know,

I really would like - I really do

want - something even nicer than

food and drink. Now what on earth

could that be?

He stares at the audience and winks at them. They laugh.

Now Papageno's aria (Ein Madchen oder Weibchen) begins. It

is interpolated, as he pretends to play his magic bells,

with the glockenspiel actually being played off-stage by

Mozart. Schikaneder looks into the pit and does not see Mozart

conducting. He looks into the wings and realizes the situation

with amusement. He sings joyfully and the audience watches

entranced.

ANDANTE:

A sweetheart or a pretty little wife

is Papageno's wish. A willing,

billing, lovey dovey Would be My

most tasty little dish. Be my most

tasty little dish! Be my most tasty

little dish!

ALLEGRO:

Then that would be eating and drinking

I'd live like a Prince without

thinking. The wisdom of old would be

mine - A woman's much better than

wine! Then that would be eating and

drinking! The wisdom of old would be

mine - A woman's much better than

wine. She's much better than wine!

She's much better than wine!

ANDANTE:

(encore, lightly, as

before)

A sweetheart or a pretty little wife

is Papageno's wish. A willing,

billing, lovey dovey Would be My

most tasty little dish.

ALLEGRO:

I need to net one birdie only And I

will stop feeling so lonely. But if

she won't fly to my aid, Then into a

ghost I must fade. I need to net one

birdie only But if she won't fly to

my aid, Then into a ghost I must

fade. To a ghost I must fade! To a

ghost I must fade!

ANDANTE:

(encore)

A sweetheart or a pretty little wife

is Papageno's wish. A willing,

billing, lovey dovey Would be My

most tasty little dish.

ALLEGRO:

At present the girls only peck me.

Their cruelty surely will wreck me.

But one little beak in my own, And

I'll up to heaven be flown! At present

the girls only peck me. But one little

beak in my own, And I'll up to heaven

be flown. Up to heaven be flown! Up

to heaven be flown!

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