Die Fledermaus

The action begins in Mr. Eisenstein’s house.  He is a merchant.  His housemaid Adele dreams of being an actress.  Alfred, who is hopelessly in love with Mr. Eisenstein’s wife Rosalinde wants Adele to arrange him a date with Rosalinde.  In return he gives the maid an invitation to a masked ball.  The ball will take place in the count Orlovsky’s palace.  Adele is happy.  What a marvelous occasion for a future “theatre star”.  But she hasn’t got even a good dress.

Adele tells Rosalinde that the new dress she has recently got from her dressmaker is similar to that of a baroness, so Rosalinde to return the dress.

Adele decides to put on her mistress’ dress for the masquerade.

Mr. Heinrich Eisenstein is furious.  Some days ago, hunting for a hazel-hen, he happened to wound a forester.  Now Heinrich has to spend eight days in prison.  He blames his lawyer Mr. Blind, but the latter promises to resume the trial.

Mr. Falke, the general manager of the theatre, advises his friend Heinrich to go to the ball.  The prison may wait.  Mr. Falke mocks at Adele’s request to become an actress of his theatre.

Alfred keeps his promise and comes to see Rosalinde. The prison governor Mr. Frank comes to arrest Heinrich, but by mistake he arrests Alfred as Rosalinda’s Husband.

At the masked ball held by the Count, Rosalinda wears a fancy dress of a bat.  This must hold the attention of Heinrich and Mr. Falke is keen of the baroness in rose coloured dress.  Heinrich is presented to Count as Marquise de Carambol and the Count introduces him to the baroness who is recognized by Heinrich as Adele.  He unmasks her but the guests burst in laugh.  Heinrich asks Adele to present him to a lady in a mask of a bat.  As an approval of his love Heinrich grants watch, the gift of his wife, to the woman in the mask of a bat.

“Baroness” Adele is mocking at Mr. Falke.  Drunk with wine and love, Heinrich meets Mr. Frank who decides to return to his duty in prison.  Heinrich also has to go to the prison to be arrested.  But speaking to Mr. Frank he finds out that the merchant Eisenstein was already imprisoned last night.  Frank describes all the details of the arrest and tender parting of Mr. Eisenstein with his wife.  Heinrich feels completely sober.  Who is that stranger, who pretends to be his wife’s husband?

The prison.  Alfred tries to prove that he has been arrested by mistake and wants to see a lawyer.  The attorney Mr. Blind appears.  Heinrich who has come to the prison decides to put on the lawyer’s gown and talk to the man who pretends to be Mr. Eisenstein.  Rosalinde comes.  Heinrich forgives her “betrayal” but claims of beginning of her new life under his strict control.

Rosalinde asks Heinrich to give her his watch.  Everything reveals.

Count Orlovsky and all his guests come to the prison.  They discover that Heinrich Eisenstein fell in love with his own wife, who was in the mask of bat and that their maid Adele pretends to be a baroness.  Her dream comes true and she is invited to theatre group.

And the life goes on filled with splendid masquerades, marvelous dances and playful intrigues…