This is the story about the poor, abandoned and illiterated maid Lovise, residing in Copenhagen during the 1770’ies. She is the daughter of the town’s night men – the most excluded and contemptuous people of their time – and to eke out a living, she becomes Madame Schulz’ servant girl, and also assists at the hospital, serving under the residing Doctor Sidenius. Seeing that Lovise is unable to read the labels on the medicine bottles, she accidentally gives a woman the wrong medicine. The woman dies and leaves four children and a husband behind, who goes insane from grief. Lovise is stripped of all her privileges and is weighed down with guilt. Consequently, she never wants the same mistake to happen again and with a strong desire to once again be able to perform proper work one day; she decides to learn how to read. To pay for her lessons, Lovise has to work as a naked dancer in a bar, and in her struggle to learn how to read she endures exploitation, complications, intrigues, prejudice and love. Produced with great success at the Grønnegårdsteatret: “Nikoline Werdelin’s best play so far (…)” – Politiken / “Intelligent and funny... New Danish drama containing all the qualities of the classic comedy. Could certainly be the best play of the year” – Jyllandsposten / “Triumph in the Grønnegården. Packed with spectacular roles for spectacular actors” – Berlingske Tidende / “Nikoline Werdelin returns in triumph. A thoroughly good story with lots of entertainment and humour, simultaneously digging deep in its emotional portrayal of these poignant destinies” – Urban/ “Theatrical bliss! Werdelin has created a classic” – Information / “Theatre de lixe, deserving to be the smash hit of the summer!” – Børsen.
