Pioneers in Ingolstadt
Encyclopedia
Pioneers in Ingolstadt is a play by German playwright Marieluise Fleißer
, which premiered on 25 March 1928 in Dresden. The play is set in 1926 and is described as a comedy in 14 Scenes. Fleißer based the play on real incidents, and worked on it in collaboration with Bertolt Brecht
. The play was revised and produced at the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm
in Berlin
in March and April 1929, directed by Brecht and Jacob Geis
, with set-design by Caspar Neher
. In 1968 Fleißer began a third revision, which was performed in 1970. In 1971, Rainer Werner Fassbinder
adapted the play as a film for television.
The setting of the play is Ingolstadt
, a small provincial market town in Bavaria
. The play depicts the immorality and selfishness which can be found in small towns, as well as how the militia
can disrupt the lives of civilians. As a result of its depiction of a sexist
society, the play did not win much sympathy from her fellow inhabitants of Ingolstadt and Fleisser suffered massive unpopularity in her home town after it was published and produced.
Alma, a friend of Berta. She used to work as a servant. Unlike Berta, Alma is a pragmatist. She sternly believes in individuality and living of means, with no reliance upon the male sex.
Korl, a soldier. Korl enjoys the physical aspects of life. On first meeting Berta he assumes that she wants the same from their meeting (sex) and has little patience with her attitude. He informs her that he is a bad person, that he can be cruel and will hurt her if she is good to him.
Fabian, son of Unertl. He is romantically interested in Berta but does not know how to proceed. He asks a friend, Zeck for advice and is told that men should be cold in love ("In der Liebe muß ein Mann kalt sein"). While he shows genuine concern for her feelings, and defends her against the complaints of his father he also falls into treating her as an animal or possession when in male company, in an attempt to show off.
Unertl, a businessman, Fabian's father and Berta's employer. Misogynistic and crude, Unertl is an unsympathetic character embodying the idea that serving girls ought to have no idea in their heads that do not relate to their employ.
Marieluise Fleißer
Marieluise Fleißer was a German author and playwright.Her best known works are two plays, Purgatory in Ingolstadt and Pioneers in Ingolstadt . Bertolt Brecht persuaded the director Moriz Seeler to stage the first play, which Seeler retitled; Fleißer's original title was The Washing of Feet....
, which premiered on 25 March 1928 in Dresden. The play is set in 1926 and is described as a comedy in 14 Scenes. Fleißer based the play on real incidents, and worked on it in collaboration with Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and theatre director.An influential theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly through the seismic impact of the tours undertaken by the...
. The play was revised and produced at the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm
Theater am Schiffbauerdamm
The Theater am Schiffbauerdamm is a theatre building at the Schiffbauerdamm riverside in the Mitte district of Berlin, Germany, opened on November 19, 1892. Since 1954 it is home to the Berliner Ensemble theatre company, founded in 1949 by Helene Weigel and Bertolt Brecht.The original name of the...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in March and April 1929, directed by Brecht and Jacob Geis
Jacob Geis
Jacob Geis was a German theatre director, screenwriter and film producer. He wrote for 35 films between 1935 and 1959.-Selected filmography:* Drei Unteroffiziere * The Falling Star...
, with set-design by Caspar Neher
Caspar Neher
Caspar Neher was an Austrian-German scenographer and librettist, known principally for his career-long working relationship with Bertolt Brecht.Neher was born in Augsburg...
. In 1968 Fleißer began a third revision, which was performed in 1970. In 1971, Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Rainer Werner Maria Fassbinder was a German movie director, screenwriter and actor. He is considered one of the most important representatives of the New German Cinema.He maintained a frenetic pace in film-making...
adapted the play as a film for television.
The setting of the play is Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt is a city in the Free State of Bavaria, in the Federal Republic of Germany. It is located along the banks of the Danube River, in the center of Bavaria. As at 31 March 2011, Ingolstadt had 125.407 residents...
, a small provincial market town in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
. The play depicts the immorality and selfishness which can be found in small towns, as well as how the militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
can disrupt the lives of civilians. As a result of its depiction of a sexist
Sexism
Sexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
society, the play did not win much sympathy from her fellow inhabitants of Ingolstadt and Fleisser suffered massive unpopularity in her home town after it was published and produced.
Characters
Berta, the protagonist. She becomes romantically attached to Korl, a soldier who is placed in Ingolstadt to help mend a bridge. She works as a servant for Unertl, the father of Fabian.Alma, a friend of Berta. She used to work as a servant. Unlike Berta, Alma is a pragmatist. She sternly believes in individuality and living of means, with no reliance upon the male sex.
Korl, a soldier. Korl enjoys the physical aspects of life. On first meeting Berta he assumes that she wants the same from their meeting (sex) and has little patience with her attitude. He informs her that he is a bad person, that he can be cruel and will hurt her if she is good to him.
Fabian, son of Unertl. He is romantically interested in Berta but does not know how to proceed. He asks a friend, Zeck for advice and is told that men should be cold in love ("In der Liebe muß ein Mann kalt sein"). While he shows genuine concern for her feelings, and defends her against the complaints of his father he also falls into treating her as an animal or possession when in male company, in an attempt to show off.
Unertl, a businessman, Fabian's father and Berta's employer. Misogynistic and crude, Unertl is an unsympathetic character embodying the idea that serving girls ought to have no idea in their heads that do not relate to their employ.