The Wannsee Wedding
One act (approximately 50 minutes). 5M, 2F (flexible).
The Wannsee Wedding is a light, romantic fantasia about the double suicide of Heinrich von Kleist and Henriette Vogel in 1811. The opening inquest, a parody of Prussian efficiency, gives way to flashbacks in which Henriette's husband, Friedrich Vogel, attempts to understand the bond forming between his wife and the doomed author and, in retrospect, what led them to die together.
Characters:
FRIEDRICH VOGEL
HEINRICH VON KLEIST
HENRIETTE VOGEL
ERNST PEGUILHEN
HIRED GIRL
PROSECUTOR
DOCTOR
FORENSIC SURGEON (optional)
SAMPLE SCENE:
(KLEIST and HENRIETTE kneel and silently pray.
VOGEL enters and watches from a distance.)
VOGEL
Oh, I see. My wife, having taken heavily to religion in her illness, has merely found a convert. I must admit that the way Heinrich went after Martin Luther in that story of his makes his conversion puzzling to me. But he is, after all, a puzzling individual. And he has seemed so unhappy lately that I suppose it would only be natural that he should seek comfort.
What was I so worried about? There is an understanding between my wife and I that governs our every action. Why, we hardly need to speak at all, so strong is our faith in each other.
(He starts to exit again.
KLEIST and HENRIETTE rise.)
HENRIETTE
Friedrich.
VOGEL
Yes, dear?
HENRIETTE
Heinrich and I have decided to take a short journey together.
VOGEL
Oh? And where to?
(LIGHTS SHIFT.
KLEIST and HENRIETTE face each other.)
KLEIST
Over the edge of the highest precipice we can find!
HENRIETTE
Into the waiting arms of our Redeemer!
(LIGHTS SHIFT again.
KLEIST, HENRIETTE and VOGEL, as before.)
VOGEL
Potsdam. How nice. Visiting someone?
HENRIETTE
Well, no.
VOGEL
Just getting out of town, then?
KLEIST
There’s an inn we’ve heard recommended.
VOGEL
By the lake?
KLEIST
A short distance.
VOGEL
It’s cold this time of year.
HENRIETTE
We’ll dress warmly.
KLEIST
I had better go and pack.
HENRIETTE
You’ll hire the coach?
KLEIST
Within the hour.
(He kisses her hand, bows to VOGEL, and exits.)
VOGEL
Well! An excursion! This is sudden.
HENRIETTE
I suppose we might have told you sooner.
VOGEL
You’ve told me now.
HENRIETTE
If you have any objection, Friedrich...
VOGEL
Why should I?
(Pause.)
How long will you be away?
HENRIETTE
We’re...not sure.
VOGEL
Several days?
HENRIETTE
Perhaps.
VOGEL
Longer?
HENRIETTE
Perhaps.
VOGEL
I see.
Are you sure you’re in condition to handle such a trip? Have you spoken with the Doctor?
HENRIETTE
Yes. He feels the air will do me good.
VOGEL
Well, I won’t argue with the Doctor. Perhaps the air will do you good.
HENRIETTE
I hope it will.
VOGEL
So do I. So do I.
As a matter of fact, Henriette...
HENRIETTE
Yes?
VOGEL
No. No.
HENRIETTE
What is it, Friedrich?
VOGEL
Well, I was wondering...suppose, Henriette, that I were to cancel my appointments and come along? Oh, of course it would interfere with my schedule, but that is unimportant. After all...well, we both know, don’t we, that we don’t have much time left, you and I...
HENRIETTE
Yes. No.
VOGEL
And the three of us, together...well, we’d have a pleasant time, no doubt...in the country...do us all good...nice to get away...in pleasant company...with two people for whom I care a great deal...it would give me great pleasure.
(HENRIETTE hesitates, unsure of what to do; then gives
VOGEL a peck on the cheek.)
HENRIETTE
You’d be bored, my dear Friedrich.
VOGEL (Pained:)
.. .No. I wouldn’t be. Not at all. I would be happy. I would be more than happy. I would be. I am sure. I am certain. Unless...
Unless there is some reason, some reason why you and Heinrich would rather not have me, why the two of you would rather go alone. If there is some reason, Henriette, I would gladly hear it, I would gladly listen, perhaps I would gladly stay behind, if there is some reason...
Is there?
IS THERE?
HENRIETTE
Friedrich...
(VOGEL sits.)
VOGEL
You are already gone.
HENRIETTE
We will be together again.
VOGEL
In Heaven?
HENRIETTE
Yes.
VOGEL
So you keep saying.
HENRIETTE
It is true.
VOGEL
We’re not there yet.
Do you love him? Is that it? Because if you do, that would explain things. Do you?
If you do, I will understand. No, I won’t understand, but I will TRY to understand...if you will only tell me.
HENRIETTE
Friedrich...if I told you, you would not understand.
VOGEL
Yes, I have said as much myself, haven’t I.
HENRIETTE
But you will understand. Before long. I hope. You will. And then, Friedrich, you will forgive me.
VOGEL
Forgive you? For what?
HENRIETTE
For what I am going to do.
(Pause.)
VOGEL
Is that your answer?
HENRIETTE
I’m sorry, Friedrich. That is the only answer I can give you, now.
(She exits.
Pause.)
VOGEL
Then what I have refused to believe was true, is true, isn’t it. But in a thousand years, I would never have thought that my wife...and Heinrich...
But Ernst was right. I should have seen it from the first. She’d been keeping him like a pet. And it was I in my kindness who allowed him to stay. I am to blame.
Certainly I can’t be angry with my wife. I am willing to ascribe this behavior to her condition. Truly, she has not been herself, lately. But what have I done, or not done, to bring this upon us? I have tried to keep her happy. How have I failed?
(KLEIST enters, carrying a valise. He sets it down
and stands by it. He and VOGEL do not acknowledge
each other.)
I cannot pretend to know what need Heinrich stirs in her. Much as I like him, he strikes me as terribly odd. Perhaps that is it. She has simply become as odd as he.
But why should that matter, after all?
(HENRIETTE enters, carrying her basket. She sets it
down and stands facing KLEIST. She and VOGEL do
not acknowledge each other.)
If he can make her happy, why should I begrudge him his efforts, or my wife her happiness? Isn’t that what I have wanted most for her? Why should it matter how she finds it? And who am I to stand in her way?
True, I am her husband. And I am hurt. There is no use pretending that I am not hurt. But I do, after all, have a lifetime in which to get over it.
(He rises.)
Yes.
(He turns to face HENRIETTE and KLEIST.)
Henriette. Heinrich.
HENRIETTE and KLEIST
Friedrich.
(Pause.)
VOGEL
Fine weather for your trip!
HENRIETTE and KLEIST
Yes.
VOGEL
You must be in a hurry. I do not intend to delay your departure with quarreling or with indignation. For what good would either do any of us at this point? What is done, is done. I merely intend to give you, for what it is worth...my blessing.
(He joins their hands.)
HENRIETTE
Friedrich...
VOGEL
Heinrich, I bear you no ill will. If I have lost her, I was going to lose her shortly, anyhow.
HENRIETTE
Friedrich, are you alright?
VOGEL
Of course I am alright. I rejoice in your happiness.
KLEIST
Why, my dear Vogel. How kind you are, how infinitely kind and understanding. Rest assured, dear Vogel, that our every thought shall be with you, and that we both thank you from the very depths of our hearts.
(VOGEL turns away and sits.)
VOGEL
Oh, it’s nothing.
KLEIST
Nothing! It is everything! It is so beautiful, my dear Vogel, that it almost makes me want to live!
(Pause. VOGEL looks up.)
HENRIETTE
That is...it would, were Heinrich not alive already.
VOGEL
Ah.
(LIGHTS OUT.
Music.
LIGHTS UP.
The PROSECUTOR enters with a Bible.
PEGUILHEN enters and stands next to KLEIST.
VOGEL steps forward with HENRIETTE.)
PROSECUTOR
Before God and the assembled company...
HENRIETTE and KLEIST
We do.
(The PROSECUTOR signals to PEGUILHEN, who
produces the pistol.
The PROSECUTOR holds the pistol between HENRIETTE
and KLEIST, like a sacred object.
KLEIST takes the pistol. He and HENRIETTE kiss.
HENRIETTE picks up her basket and holds it open.
KLEIST places the pistol inside and takes up his valise.
KLEIST and HENRIETTE dash off together, as
PEGUILHEN tosses a handful of confetti.
PEGUILHEN and the PROSECUTOR exit.
VOGEL is left alone.)