Curse, Fortune and Many a Trick - Comedy by and with Spitz & Stumpf

Bernhard Weller and Götz Valter bring the rise of the Habsburgs to the stage as a comedy spectacular in Germersheim, marking the city's anniversary.

The state exhibition "Die Habsburger. Aufstieg einer Dynastie im Mittelalter" (The Habsburgs: Rise of a Dynasty in the Middle Ages) inspired a specially written stage piece. For the third time, Palatinate comedians Bernhard Weller and Götz Valter - better known as "Spitz & Stumpf" - have teamed up with the Historical Museum of the Palatinate to bring history to life on stage in an entertaining way. Now they are bringing "Fluch, Fortüne und viele Finten" to Germersheim for the city's anniversary celebrations.

The Habsburgs. Rise of a dynasty in the Middle Ages. What sounds harmless turns out to be a mix of crime thriller, soap opera and comedy. 250 years of German history that fit perfectly with Bernhard Weller and Götz Valter's motto: "Es hört halt ääfach net uff zu bassiere!" (Things just never stop happening!). Because not only the Habsburgs, but also the Wittelsbachs, the Nassaus, the Luxembourgs and the Bohemians - they all wanted to "be king" at some point. So there were often two kings at the same time. There were kings who never showed up. There were dead kings who cheerfully kept on ruling. There were kings with three crowns and kings with none at all. Then kings who were emperors, kings who never became emperors, and kings who also wanted to become pope... Speaking of popes: there were holy popes who were utterly useless, and even popes in suspenders. At one point there were three popes simultaneously, and - to close the circle - there were popes who wanted to become emperors too. And the Habsburgs kept turning up throughout.

A political "Genkemenkes" of epic scope, tailor-made for Weller and Valter to deliver in their unmistakably comic style. Having retired their beloved alter egos Friedel Spitz and Eugen "Eicheen" Stumpf, historian, actor and playwright Bernhard Weller now focuses on...