About the work
Der gefühlvolle Kerkermeister (originally Der gefühlvolle Kerckermeister oder Adelheid, die verfolgte Wittib) is a three-act spoken-and-sung parody by Johann Nestroy of the popular dance drama Adelheid von Frankreich by choreographer L. Henry, as well as of August von Kotzebue's Der Schutzgeist. It was Nestroy's first new piece for the Theater an der Wien, where it premiered on 7 February 1832, with music by Adolf Müller.
Plot
The widowed Adelheid and her son are pursued by a villain and must flee for their lives. With the help of good-hearted allies and a fairy-tale, supernatural rescue that mimics the ballet being parodied, mother and son finally escape their pursuers.
Cultural significance
As a parody of conventional dance dramas and tearjerkers, the play marked Nestroy's debut at the Theater an der Wien and was well received over 20 performances, even though contemporary critics initially praised director Carl's staging more than Nestroy's text.