COMEDY (comedy in two acts)
NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 8 (3-5 years old)
The text is preserved in manuscript form at the Slovenian Theatre Institute, but only partially (transcripts of individual roles, Archives of the Dramatic Society) and as a typescript without a date of creation (29 pages).
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20. 10. 1889, Slovenian Theatre in Ljubljana (National Reading Room)
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Josip Vošnjak (1834-1911) was a writer, publicist, politician and doctor. In addition to the short story and the novel Pobratimi, he wrote a number of dramatic texts (eleven of which have survived). His social and political dramas with contemporary content and complexly drawn characters indicated the rapprochement of Slovenian dramatic literature with modern European literary trends, a rapprochement that was only fully realized by Ivan Cankar. Vošnjak was closely connected with Slovenian theatre and also wrote some lighter texts for its needs, including the Minister's Letter.
Act 1: The opening dialogue between mother and daughter introduces us to the plot: Jurij Dremota has chosen a fiancé for his daughter who is not to her liking. Klara is in love with her father's ward, Bogomil, a young intern without parents who has just returned home after passing the notary exam. Since Bogomil advocates progressive political views, he and the ward are in conflict, so the latter, as an imaginary patient, imagines Dr. Potokar as his future son-in-law, who will provide him with constant medical care after the wedding and alleviate his numerous ailments.
This is followed by scenes featuring the domineering retired official Dremote, who reveals his demanding and irritable character in dialogues with his family and servants, while the servant and cook spice up the play with folk comic elements and wordplay.
Bogomil asks the guardian to write a letter of recommendation to his former classmate for him, recommending him for the vacant notary position. Dremot's friend from his youth has become the Minister of Justice. After initial resistance, Dremota agrees to let the young notary candidate write the letter on his behalf, but still refuses his persistent advances and requests.
Act 2: While the old man is reading medical manuals and his servant is disinfecting the house and surroundings, Bogomil returns from Vienna with a letter from the minister, in which the minister nostalgically recalls their old friendship, supports Bogomil, and even promises to try to come to Bogomil's wedding to Klara, to which Dremota is still opposed.
But this is only true until the next scene, in which Dremota learns of the insidious plans and malice of Dr. Potokar, which not only dissuades him from his plans for marriage, but also miraculously restores his health. Of course, he knows that Bogomil is also trying to convince him with lies and deceit and that he has forged the minister's letter, but he is more lenient towards him and only lets the doctor, who is no longer needed by him, leave the house. In the end, it is difficult to judge what fuels Dremot's consent to his daughter's marriage to Bogomil more: the persistent female persuasion or the telegram announcing to the idyllic family gathering that the future groom has become a notary for Carniola.