The story, based on Heinrich von Kleist’s telling, is narrated by Michael Kohlhaas’s two horses Mare and Stallion.

Michael Kohlhaas, horse breeder and dealer, is taking his horses to the market. As a pass is required to do so, according to an alleged new decree, he goes to Dresden to get the papers. Meanwhile Vencel, the land-owning nobleman, keeps the horses as collateral. It emerges that there is no decree. By the time Kohlhaas returns, his servant has been beaten and chased away, his horses worked to exhaustion; he does not get compensation.

Michael Kohlhaas believes that simple men can also be in the right against a nobleman, so leaving his family he goes off to find his justice. Michael Kohlhaas’s wife Lisbeth travels to the prince for help, but does not get a face to face hearing with him; a guardsman strikes her so hard with his spear that she dies. In his extreme embitterment Michael Kohlhaas pursues Vencel to the death, and even finds followers; but meanwhile his enemies among the powerful grow too. The powers offer Kohlaas an accord and have him put down his arms. He receives financial compensation for his dead horses but is condemned to death for rebellion. His final confession is disillusionment and loss of faith itself.

Based on the short story 'Michael Kohlhaas' by Heinrich von Kleist
Written by István Tasnádi

CAST

Performed by András Stohl / Ferenc Lengyel, Ági Szirtes, Ernő Fekete, Eszter Kiss, Andor Lukáts, Sándor Terhes / László Szacsvay, Győző Szabó / Ervin Nagy, Zoltán Rajkai, Roland Rába, Gergely Kocsis

Musicians: Balázs Horváth, András Monori, Gábor Pelva, Bálint Pödör

Stage design by András Bartos
Costume design by Klára Varga
Music by Erzsi Kiss, András Monori
Choreography by Éva Magyar
Collaborators: Réka Budavári, Ferenc Dankó, Zsuzsanna Dudás,Judit Tóth, Anna Veress
Light: József Pető
Sound: József Horváth
Stage manager: Tamás Erőss
 

Directed by Árpád Schilling

Photo: József Katona Theatre

PRESS

• Simonette Trovato, Giornale di Sicilia, 1999
   
• Frédéric Ferney, Le Figaro, 1999
   
• Mónika Szűcs: Hogy végül vajas kenyeret ehessünk. Ellenfény, 1999.
   
• Balázs Urbán: A lovakat levágják, ugye? Színház / Theatre, September 1999.

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