The play is co-written by Berg and David Kalisch. The file contains handwritten materials related to rehearsal and performance, including a handwritten transcription of the text in a hard-covered notebook, which is annotated as a prompt-book; a scenario that primarily makes reference to music ("Musikzettel"); and 19 role books, for the following parts: Schlicht, Rechtsanwalt; Bernhard, sein Sohn; Auguste, Quisenows Frau; Agnes Brand; Ferdinand, Kellner; Caroline, Dienstmädchen; Nünicke, Schulze von Rixdorf; Frau Nünicke; Bremser, Gefangenwärter; Eisleben, Köhler, and Kohlrepp (Spieler); Hahnekamm, Schneider; Frau Döse, Portiersfrau; Minna, Friseuse; Schneppke, ein Gauner; ein Curassier; ein Polizei-Commissair; and ein Dienstmädchen. (The play has 4 additional roles: Quisenow, Stadtverordneter; Brand, Maurer; Dümmler, Spieler; and ein Junge.) The transcription of the text attributes music to Conradi. In folders 651-652 are handwritten musical scores for instruments including violin, flute, bass, clarinet and cornet; a single sheet of music with lyrics for one song; and a (handwritten) booklet of music with lyrics for 11 songs. The latter music booklet, as well as the copy of the text, are marked as the property of Theodor Bloch, who was active in German-language theater in Philadelphia from around 1873, and who ran a theater lending library from around 1880 to the mid 1890s. The role books bear the names of actors and actresses who played the roles in successive productions, reflecting at least four or five different casts. The scenario appears to date from 1873, based on the likely dating of a newspaper clipping (pasted to the sheet as a title) that advertises the days and dates of a performance of the play; names of cast members on role books indicate that they were first used in a performance earlier than 1878 (one cast member, Johann Baptist Jünger, died in April 1878, as documented in a theater newspaper in the collection). Seven role books bear the stamp "M. Dardenne," indicating that they belonged to, or were written out by the actress Marie Dardenne, who appeared in German-language plays in Philadelphia from the 1870s through the 1880s. The role book for Ferdinand is dated on the back, "Phil. d. 15. 10. 77," and appears to be signed on the front by the actor Hübsch (the first initials might be "G. W.") who played the role around that time. See the index in the collection's register for details about 4 theater newspapers (in drawer 35) and 3 playbills (in box 36 and drawer 36) documenting performances of the play in Philadelphia from 1880 to 1888.
