The Broken Pitcher - A Comedy by Heinrich von Kleist

In the village of Huisum, it is court day. Judge Adam tumbles out of bed in the morning and explains his various injuries by claiming he fell over himself. It is the first of many lies.

The real reason: the night before, Adam had harassed the young Eve in her room. He had promised to save her fiancé Ruprecht from military conscription by issuing him a secret certificate - for whoever is shipped to Asia will hardly return alive, Adam had threatened. When Ruprecht surprises him, Adam flees through the window and sustains various injuries. The only silent witness to the night is a pitcher, now shattered into pieces. Eve's mother Martha takes the matter to court and accuses none other than Ruprecht of the assault.

Adam opens the trial, determined to conceal his own guilt. With threats, intimidation, and false accusations, he attempts to condemn an innocent man - while Eve, blackmailed by him, remains silent.

Heinrich von Kleist's comedy pushes the order and rules of his time to the breaking point. In the end, love, family, state interest, and innocence are all at stake. Abuse of power, violation of privacy, corruption in government, arrogance of authority - the play addresses themes that are scarcely less relevant today.