State Theatre: The Broken Jug

In the Dutch village of Huisum, during a nighttime burglary, Marthe Rull's jug has been broken. Village judge Adam is supposed to find the culprit, but he appears extremely disheveled and sleep-deprived in court. To make matters worse, a court advisor has also announced his arrival to evaluate the performance of the village judge. During the trial, it becomes clear that Marthe's daughter Eve had a late visitor, who likely broke the jug in his attempt to flee. The wilder the speculations about the dishonorable visitor become, the quicker Judge Adam seems to want to reach a verdict and find someone responsible – despite some evidence suggesting that the judge himself might be involved in the act… Heinrich von Kleist's (1777–1811) timeless comedy mercilessly and entertainingly illustrates how those in power try to evade their responsibilities with utter audacity. As a satirical critique of the justice system and human weaknesses, Kleist sharply mocks the transgressions of both the powerful and ordinary people with biting wit and unsettling insight.