Der Hofmeister

Hofmeister, Der, an adaptation by B. Brecht of J. M. R. Lenz's comedy Der Hofmeister oder die Vorteile der Privaterziehung, written for the Berliner Ensemble, and produced in April 1950. The last couplet of the rhymed prologue, spoken by the tutor Läuffer, explains the purpose of the play: ‘Wills euch verraten, was ich lehre:/Das ABC der Teutschen Misere!’ The epilogue is spoken by the actor representing Läuffer. He appeals to future generations of teachers to liberate themselves from the tutor's ‘Knechtseligkeit’. Lenz's intentions were not contrary to Brecht's views, but in order to present the message in his own way, Brecht has entirely rewritten the dialogue, while retaining the names of the characters. Elaborate notes on the rehearsals over a period of nine weeks are attached, and record the reactions of the joint producers C. Neher, Monk, and Besson, and other participants and onlookers. Brecht also wrote a sonnet ‘Der Hofmeister’ in a collection of Sozialkritische Sonette.