The Fidget

1723 comic play by Ludvig Holberg

Den Stundesløse
Wilhelm Marstrand: Act 1, Scene 6: Vielgeschrey’s hardships,
Written by	Ludvig Holberg
Date premiered	23 March 1726
Place premiered	Lille Grønnegade Theatre, Copenhagen, Denmark
Original language	Danish
Genre	Comedy
Setting	Denmark

The Fidget (Danish: Den stundesløse) is a satirical play published by Ludvig Holberg in 1723. It premiered at Lille Grønnegade Theatre in Copenhagen on 25 November 1726.^[1]

Plot summary

Vielgeschrey, a fidget merchant constantly surrounded by hubhub, is prone to believing that he is much more busy than he really is. This eventually makes him suffer a tragicomic fate.^[2]

Roles

Vielgeschrei
Pernille
Oldfux
Magdelone
Leander
Leonora
Leonard
Erik Madsen
Peder Eriksen
Ane
A barber
Corfitz
Christen Griffel
En bonde

Adaptions

Denmark

DT has produced a Danish television version of Den Stundesløse that was first broadcast on 19 April 1973. It was directed by John Price and starred Jørgen Reenberg (Vielgescrey), Ghita Nørby (Pernille) and Henning Moritzen (Oldfux).

Norway

NEK has produced Norwegian-language "made-for-television" of Den stundesløse that was first broadcast on 24 January 1964. It was directed by Per Simonnæs and Ulf Stenbjørn and starred Rolf Berntzen (Vielgeschrei ), Randi Lindtner Næss (Pernille) and Lothar Lindtner (Oldfux ). NRK released a new television version of the play on 7 February 1978. It was directed by Magne Bleness and starred Arne Aas, Bentein Baardson, Thom Bastholm-

English translations

Holberg, Ludvig (1912). Three Comedies. Translated by Hime, H(enry) W(illiam) L(ovett). London: Longmans, Green and Co. OCLC 6079882.
—— (1946). Four Plays by Holberg. Translated by Alexander, Henry. Princeton University Press for the American-Scandinavian Foundation. OCLC 1381528.
Heiberg, Johan Ludvig; Holberg, Ludvig (1999). Three Danish Comedies. Translated by Meyer, Michael Leverson. London: Oberon Books. ISBN 9781840020601. OCLC 1098665264.

References

^ "Ludvig Holberg (1684-1754)". danskforfatterleksikon.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 26 March 2018.
^ "Wilhelm Marstrand". nivaagaard Malerisamling. Retrieved 26 March 2018.