- Papageno's Holidays,
- 2023
- 1 male - 1 female
Playwright: Sofianna Theofanous
- Papageno and Papagena, tired of repeating the same roles in The Magic Flute, decide to take a Christmas holiday. Papagena steals the Magic Flute and they set off on a journey into the cold. In Salzburg, they enjoy strudel and mulled wine until a drunken Papageno knocks down the Christmas tree in the town square, forcing them to leave. In the Alps, they attempt to ski without an instructor, with disastrous results: they fall, are swept away by an avalanche, and end up cold and in pain. They eventually arrive in Rovaniemi, Finland, where Santa Claus forces them to work as elves until New Year’s Eve, with no days off and no bonuses. Desperate and homesick, they plan to escape, but think of all the children waiting for their presents. When they see the Northern Lights, Papageno reveals the repaired Magic Flute, a gift from an elf they helped. Moved, they decide to return to Egypt, to the warmth and to their roles in The Magic Flute. They realise that they would rather be prisoners of the Queen of the Night than Santa’s elves. With the repaired flute, they disappear in an embrace, ready to repeat their roles forever. Their journey ultimately shows us that home, even within repetition, is the greatest gift of the holiday season.