Der Kuß des Vergessens

"Like Aristotle and the pope I am of the opinion that the couple is preferential to other types of union. It is even the sole content of my writing, that the couple comes before state, society and all other systems.» (Strauss). This play's framework is a conversation among eleven party guests about a movie they just saw. This is where Mr. Jelke, "doorman and amateur astronomer" and young Ricarda meet. Later they run into each other again. Mr. Jelke is sitting in a waiting room waiting for his number to be called when a frantic girl comes rushing in and apologizes to him for what she is about to do. She has to make good on a bet, and so she has to stand on a chair, dance barefoot while singing Ave Maria, and kiss a complete stranger. Ricarda kisses Mr. Jelke, and from there an eight year long extra marital relationship ensues. Different situations between Ricarda and Jelke follow, alone, together, with a third person, in a group. No time passes in between, just the set-up of the experiment changes, they lose and find each other, the level of trust, the value and quality of the relationship are being tested, to lead to the same result each time: "inseparable and incompatible". A proper "quadruped", the "most highly developed creature on earth" as Ricarda puts it.