About the work
New parody with songs in three acts by Johann Nestroy on the Cinderella story, first performed on 23 March 1832 at the Theater an der Wien as a benefit performance for the author. Its direct source was Auguste Schreiber's adaptation 'Finette Aschenbrödel' (1830), based on the operas by Nicolo Isouard and Gioacchino Rossini; the music was composed by Adolf Müller senior.
Plot
The wealthy heir Rampsamperl — played by Nestroy himself — must marry by his 25th birthday to inherit his fortune, and disguises himself as a stable hand to look for a wife undisturbed. This is how he meets Rosa, mistreated by her stepmother. After mix-ups, magic tricks and a contest among marriageable girls, Rosa turns down a happiness forced by magic and chooses Rampsamperl out of genuine affection instead.
Cultural significance
With 71 performances by 1858, the piece became one of Nestroy's lasting box-office successes; his signature role of Rampsamperl contributed substantially to its popularity.