The most entertaining and combative theater critiques by Fontane. Laughter disarms criticism, believes Fontane, but unintentional comedy calls the theater critic to action. With Fontane, we sit in seat 23 of the Royal Theater in Berlin. Whether classics or box office hits, whether French theater or "Free Stage": he observes the successful author Hugo Lubliner with an open mind but sharp tongue, who presents only "squeaking puppets" on stage instead of real people, the "captivating power" of Ibsen's plays, and Goethe's drama "Torquato Tasso," which leaves him unmoved. We encounter a silent prison guard, who is the only one not to say anything foolish, and a folding chair that takes center stage.