The Gothamites
Pen and ink on paper
34 × 21 cm
1901
Catalogue raisonné 159

Manuscript
Arnold Schönberg Center, Wien

The Gothamites
The libretto for a “Comic Opera in 3 Acts” originated in the summer of 1901 and has remained a fragment; it consists of the manuscript of Act I, an outline and several stage sketches. Two young strangers visit the legendary small town of Schilda and watch the odd hustle and bustle in the town square with interest: the councillors have to enter the town hall via a rope on a winch as the door was forgotten during the construction of the building. It initially seems that their meeting will not take place, because “the person who is supposed to conduct the official correspondence / He can only write, but not read.” The focus of the day’s debate will be the fate of Klaus and his family, who have spent each day in the home of a different resident in Schilda since their house burned down. After much criticism of arbitrary acts by the authorities and arguments among the parties, the unknown guests courageously intervene in the events. There are signs of a happy ending when one of them, who feels attracted to Käthe, Klaus’ daughter, reveals that he is a native of Schilda who grew up in foreign parts.

Act I, Scene 1
Square outside the town hall in Schilda. We see the triangular town hall without the entrance door, and a winch with a rope attached outside the only window, intended to pull up people and objects.