Abstract: The play Maison de Santé – Einladung zur feinen Gesellschaft, loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe’s story “The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether,” centres on a visit by a Prussian medical student to a mental institution in the southern provinces of France in 1830. This Maison de Santé is known for a novel approach to treating mental illnesses called “the humane method” from England. However, during a dinner with the sponsors of the institution, to which Monsieur Maillard, the head of the mental hospital, had invited him, the student discovers that a different approach is now being applied: “The method of Dr. Thaer & Prof. Fedders.” Amidst food, music, and dance, the guests discuss unusual life experiences and ideas. Only at the end does Monsieur Maillard clarify that the student has been in the company of the actual patients of the facility. These patients, a month ago, during an uprising, had imprisoned their guards and the staff and temporarily taken control. However, the actual staff eventually regains control, confining the patients, including Monsieur Maillard.

Details: The piece begins with a retrospective in which the narrator, speaking from the off, reports that he now finds the strength to return to his diary after emerging from the darkest realms, bordering on the brink of death. The original purpose of his trip to the provinces of France had been to combat his melancholy. However, the adventures of the past few days serve as, at best, a “salutary counter-shock.” Thanks to a recommendation from Parisian doctors, he, a medical student, received an invitation to visit the private asylum run by Monsieur Maillard. Supposedly, this institution is guided by the English humane method, which avoids any form of punishment; the patients are only very rarely confined. Instead, they are discreetly and inconspicuously observed, whereas, in Germany, individuals with psychological abnormalities are still incarcerated as if they were criminals. As he arrives at the Château de Banlieue, the student describes the garden at the end of which lies the largely derelict old castle. Already at this moment, he is overcome by a gloomy feeling even though he does not yet know the reason. From now on, the narrative is no longer told in retrospect, but the actual play begins when the student meets Monsieur Maillard. The latter thanks the young man for the caution and decency with which he approaches and explains that they used to receive many visitors. However, since they irritated the patients, only selected visitors were received. Upon the student’s request, he learns that the humane method he had heard so much about has not been used for several weeks because it is considered too dangerous. He admits that he does not know much about this method, as he studies at the Königlich Preußisches Krankenhaus (Royal Prussian Hospital) of the Charité, where the prevailing belief is that the sick must first be brought to absolute obedience. Madness is driven out of them by frightening them to death and breaking their will. The student continues, mentioning that a doctor was even released from the Charité for negligent homicide. Monsieur Maillard explains that in their profession, they always have one foot in jail. With a loud voice, he continues that they have taken one step further in this castle: They have experimented with a model of society that could potentially serve as a model for the entire country one day. He invites the visitor to dine with the patrons of the house that evening to witness the harmony in which they live. The next day, he plans to show him the entire institution, including the patients. Then the curtain rises. Music and laughter can be heard, and many people enter the stage. One of them tells a story of a girl and love in a sea empire not far from Vienna through a microphone. A group plays quiet music between the passages. Then Monsieur Maillard introduces the other guests to the student. Among them is Princesse Annabelle de Banlieue, who inherited the castle and made it available as Maison de Santé. Another guest is introduced as Mr. Johnny Goodfellow from a small town in Illinois, who owns important tobacco plantations and supports the experiment with his millions. Then Monsieur Albert Dubois, a philosopher of garden architecture, arrives and talks about nature until Monsieur Maillard pulls him to his seat and vigorously asks him to share more later. Next, the director’s niece, Lenor, lavishly kisses the student’s hand several times, until he also invites her to sit down. Some members of the staff are also present: Monsieur Maillard introduces Madame Joyeuse, the cook, to him. Then a man pulls the student by the arm, introducing himself as Jacques, a coachman, gardener, and man for everything. Another guest is Sister Annemarie, who knows when each tablet or injection is needed. Finally, Jacques awkwardly helps the student take a seat but is then chased away by the director. The table is set with three different glasses per person, a soup plate, and a regular plate. Everyone toasts to the student, hoping for an educational and interesting evening, but the glasses are empty. Invisible soup is served, and the guests chat while music plays. Then Raphael, the poet, recites a dark poem. Monsieur Maillard explains to the student that the performer’s name means “healing,” at which point one of the women at the table mentions that they all need healing. Mr. Goodfellow begins to talk about his late wife, Elisabeth. The cook mentions that Duke de Banlieue was cruelly executed during the revolution and disregards Monsieur Maillard’s requests for silence. In response, Princesse Annabelle de Banlieue stands up and walks around the table, screaming. The host pushes her back into her chair and then starts shouting to himself about an entire family being exterminated because of this glorious revolution. Sister Annemarie then stands up and asks everyone to be happy. Once again, everyone drinks. The princess steps up to the microphone and begins to sing, while the other guests dance in pairs. Jacques grabs Lenor, who screams until Albert frees her and dances with her. Jacques continues to sing, and Monsieur Maillard explains to the student that here, common people dance with the fine company. The student engages in conversation with the princess and learns that she draws what she experiences as a way to process it, to which he responds by explaining that he is writing a diary. Later, Monsieur Albert Dubois delivers a lecture on garden history, during which he announces, among other things, that man does not need an insane asylum but nature to live. Then Monsieur Maillard interrupts Albert and takes the microphone out of his hand. A loud alarm signal sounds, the lights go off, and there is a brief silence. Eventually, the guests sing like a professional choir, making arm movements like flapping wings. When the student gets up and continues singing alone, “The rooster is dead,” they laugh at him. The student is introduced to the master of the bar, Mademoiselle Virchini, who does not speak but knows many of the castle’s secrets. She bends three times in front of the student and then sits down at the director’s instruction. The next course is presented, and it sounds like exquisite food, but the trays are empty. The guests say “Mmh” and quote the fairy tale of “Schlaraffenland.” Annoyed, Monsieur Maillard hits the table with his fist and throws Jacques and a few others a piece of bread from a cigar box. He wishes them a good appetite and is asked by the cook, “Doctor Maillard, do you still believe that you violate human dignity?” He replies that he rejects such unqualified statements and asks the student about his arrival. Later, the host explained to the students that they had some very serious cases in their homes, especially confused people who could not be reached with their method. Lenor cites the example of a young woman who could no longer avert her gaze from the mirror. Annabelle de Banlieue holds a small mirror in her hand and explains that she was afraid someone might steal her face. Then Mr. Goodfellow sings again about his late wife, and the other guests talk about former patients and their delusions. Finally, an alarm signal sounds again, but Monsieur Maillard is unimpressed and explains that serious escape attempts are rare. The student is surprised that the inmates are exclusively men, and the guards are women. The guests explain that things have changed considerably recently. The student inquires with Monsieur Maillard about the guests, and whether they are seriously ill, which he denies. They are his friends and assistants. The student thereupon asks Dr. Maillard about the new method he uses instead of the famous humane method. He explains that with them, the madmen can scream as much as they want. Some of the guests then start screaming and begin singing the Marseillaise. The student learns that Monsieur Maillard is the inventor of the method but parts of it were inspired by Dr Thaer and Professor Fedders. When the student admits that he has never heard of them, the guests are shocked. Eventually, the servants bring actual food, but no one eats anything except the student. Meanwhile, Jacques pretends that he strangles the princess until the director interrupts them. Later, Monsieur Maillard suddenly begins to speak emotionally, and the student praises him as an actor. The host declares, “Well recognized. As you can see, we also play theatre here.” When three of the women begin to feed the student, the latter asks if they are sure that his guests know when they are playing and when they are not. Shortly after, the student suddenly starts sobbing and says he wants to go home. When the student asks the princess what she thinks makes a person lovable, she answers “worth living.” Then everyone sings and dances around happily until the alarm signal sounds again The student believes he understands the new method by which the madmen are allowed to live freely. Monsieur Maillard then announces that he is no longer Monsieur Maillard. He says that not long ago, a particularly intelligent madman had the idea to start a riot in the house. After a few days, the entire staff was tied up and detained, and guards and supervisors exchanged places. The director explains that the so-called normal always forgets that a madman is not equal to a fool. The student admits that the madman succeeded. Several times the alarm signal sounds, and tarred and feathered persons storm the room. They say that the insane actor slaughtered the real Dr. Maillard and served him as a delicacy to his friend, but this was a horrible rumour that no one could prove. The former guests then all wear a white coat and walk in a circle. The student still dreams of the experiences in the Maison de Santé.