The play was co-written by Moser and Franz von Schönthan, and was first published in 1882. The file contains materials related to rehearsal and performance, including a published copy (Berlin, Eduard Bloch, n.d.), which has been annotated as a prompt-book; and 12 handwritten role books, for the following parts: Otto Dorn, Rentier; Adelheid Dorn, seine Frau; Hedwig Stein; Felix Stein, Kaufmann; Carl Hilberg; Fanny, Hilbergs Gattin; Ella Brandt; Grete, Dorns Tochter; Paul Grosser, Schriftsteller; Pfeffermann, Lohndiener; Ulrike, in Dorns Diensten; Ferdinand, Kellner. (The play has 3 additional roles: Max Cornelius, Architekt; Amalie, Dienstmädchen bei Stein; and Anna, Dienstmädchen bei Hilberg.) The published copy likely dates from 1882 or shortly after; it bears a note from the authors preceding the title page: "Als Manuscript gedruckt. Für öffentliche Bühnen im Debit der Theater-Agentur von Felix Bloch in Berlin, und ist von demselben allein das Recht der Aufführung zu erwerben." Several of the role books are labeled by hand as the property of Theodor Bloch, who was active in German-language theater in Philadelphia, first as an actor and later as a prompter, from at least the early 1870s until the mid 1890s, and who also ran a theater lending library. Names of actors and actresses noted on the covers of the role books reflect three different casts who performed in Philadelphia, dating from approximately 1883, 1885, and 1888. The same casts are also noted in the published copy near the list of characters. See the index in the collection's register for details about 2 theater newspapers (folders 695 and 706) that document the performances of 1883 and 1888, as well as a small handbill and an oversized playbill from the 1883 performance (folders 680 and 720). See also a theater newspaper in folder 708 advertising a performance in 1891 (that cast is not, however, reflected on the role books).
