Gala Dinner year 1926

A humorous cabinet cabaret piece — a masterpiece in miniature about the Panhans of the Golden Years, spiced with chansons from the 1920s.

Mrs. Josephine is the factotum of the hotel. With an imperial-feminine first name and sharing her name with one of its most famous guests, Josephine Baker, she manages the Panhans with discreet sovereignty.

Everyone of importance — or not — must pass by her concierge desk: “Mrs. Josephine, has any mail arrived for me?” “Mrs. Josephine, please arrange transport to the Busserl train!” …and much more.

She knows everything, sees everything, and remains silent. Most of the time. But today, at the gala dinner, she opens up.

She tells stories about the Panhans, about Semmering and its guests, about the legendary 20-shilling view, about the Busserl train, about the Alpine bath and casino, about car and ski races, about regular guests and pretenders, about seekers of meaning, daring men, and equally bold ladies.

And to all of this, songs resound — chansons that she performs only today, only at the gala dinner, and only for its guests.