The play is set towards the end of the 18th century. Europe is swarming with little principalities in which the monarchs have complete power over their subjects. The freedom revolutions are boiling over, democracy is on its way – the days of the monarchs are over. In this atmosphere of decadence and crumbling hierarchies we encounter prince Johan and his wife Frederikke who toy with the power balance both in and out of bed. The prince is struck by crisis. Who is he? Why is he prince? He begins to test his surroundings in attempt to undermine his own authority. In attempt to put an end to the prince’s embarrassing behaviour the princess hires a young girl named Seline, whose job is to keep the prince’s attention off his insane identity project. However, Seline turns out to be shy and innocent, and the princess employs her own brutal methods in order to teach Seline about the art of satisfying a man. The Prince falls in love with the young woman and her innocence, and continues his kamikaze attempts with even greater enthusiasm.
