简介：WiththehelpofhisassistantAnja,OttocaroWeissintendstoputtheplagueonstage:circumstancesbeyondhiscontrolanda«lackoffreshtalent»haveforcedhimtoclosedownhisfleacircus.ForWeiss,theplaguemeansthe«extinctionofeverythingthatmakeslifemiserableandlow»,andfreedomalongwithit.Unbeknownsttohim,hehaswonthesupportofapatronwhoisoftheexactoppositeopinion:forJohannesWagner,theplagueisan«organisingprinciple»,and,aidedbyhisagentMoosbrugger,heisabletosmuggleanewnumberontotheprogramme.WhereasOttocaroWeissmeanstorepresenttheplaguetheatrically,whatappearsonstageisthescientificrealityoftherat-borneinfestation.Wagnerbelievesthatheisdoingaservicetoasuper-civilisedhumankindbyunleashingtheepidemic,butheisfoiledbyWeiss,whoseneedtosalvagehisownpersonalcredibilityandregainthepoliticaldimensionhehadlostleadshimtoexchangethetheatre'sworldofappearancesforreality.Intheend,thefreedomaffordedbythestageismerelyanillusion,andisnotenough.…