The play is an adaptation of the German fairy tale (Märchen) of the same title. The file contains materials related to rehearsal and performance of the play, including a published copy (Altona: Verlags-Bureau / A. Prinz, n.d.), which has been annotated as a prompt-book; a handwritten scenario; and 17 handwritten role books representing the following 13 parts: Baron von Montecontecuculorum (2 versions); Sybilla, seine zweite Gemahlin; Kunigunde; Serafine; Rosa, genannt Aschenbrödel; Hofmarschall Grasemück; Syfax, Bettler (2 versions); Diener; Walpurgis; ein Portier; König Kakadu; Prinz Wunderhold (2 versions); and Minister Puterhahn (2 versions). There appears to be one role book missing, for Stallmeister Wiederhopf; and the published copy lists a number of additional characters. The published copy dates from around the mid 1860s and makes reference to music by Stiegmann. (No music is included here.) It is labeled as the property of Theodor Bloch, who ran a theater lending library in Philadelphia. Names of actors and actresses written on the covers of role books reflect three or four performances of the play in Philadelphia, with different casts, from the late 1870s through the 1880s. See the index in the collection's register for details about theater newspapers (in drawer 35) and a playbill (in folder 678) that document performances in 1878-1880.
