DER WEIBSTEUFEL (THE SHE-DEVIL)

Karl Schönherr’s drama THE SHE-DEVIL premiered at the Burgtheater in 1915. It is a furious piece of popular theatre about a woman and two men from the mountains of Tyrol. A man who makes a living from selling smuggled goods learns that the local policeman has hatched a plan to finally put an end to his activities, after many failed attempts. The policeman enlists the help of a border patrolman who is to ingratiate himself with the criminal’s attractive wife. The border patrolman stands to gain a speedy promotion if he can sweet-talk the woman into giving up information. The husband, in turn, encourages his wife to pretend to fall for the patrolman in order to win time for his criminal activities.