Mr. Szmil's Chairs

Kipphardt uses a well-known plot, based on motives from the novel The Twelve Chairs by Ilya Ilf and Yevgeny Petrov: A rich aunt has hidden the family jewels in one of twelve chairs, which ended up with different owners. Szmil, a has-been baron and now, under the socialist regime, a dour registrar, takes up the chase, albeit without any success. Because the aunt is enjoying perfect health – it was all a prank on her greedy nephew. The conventionally droll plot serves as a political satire here, lampooning the fossils of has-been nobility and bourgeoisie, along with the aspects of a socialist society - the latter being represented by Szmil's unwanted partner, Kasch, an intelligent con artist, who utilizes the system of functionaries and is perfectly proficient in its terminology.