Vienna, 1780. The famous innkeeper of the tavern “Bey den goldenen Straußen” in the suburban Josefstadt, just outside of Vienna, is worried: his beloved daughter has fallen in love with the travelling actor Karl Mayer, of all people! In order for him to stay and marry her, she wants to convince her father to build a theatre. To persuade his future father-in-law, Karl Mayer gets his best friends to join him in suburbia and showcase excerpts of amusing Biedermeier plays on a makeshift stage. In the end, the innkeeper is convinced – laughter makes people happy and thirsty, which helps not only his business, but also his daughter. However, he has one condition: the theatre can’t be larger than a handkerchief (‘Schnupftüchl’)…
During the play, actors of the Theater in der Josefstadt and the Vienna Children’s Theatre summon their audience on stage as ‘friends’ of Karl Mayer and thus include them in the events. Prior to the performance, the children get a chance to rehearse short scenes by Ferdinand Raimund and Johann Nestroy at their schools with the assistance of an actor. Additionally, during a teacher workshop, the respective plays are introduced by the actors, and the stage design, conceived by the Albertina museum, is presented along with painting materials for those finishing touches.