Charlotte Birch-Pfeiffer

Charlotte Johanna Birch-Pfeiffer (23 June 1800 in Stuttgart25 August 1868 in Berlin) was a German actress, writer, director of the Stadttheater in Zürich for six years, and author of over 100 plays and libretto.

From 1827 to 1839 Charlotte acted at the Theater an der Wien. From 1837–1842 she worked as the director of the Stadttheater in Zürich. After professionally visiting most of the cities in Germany, in 1844 she accepted an engagement at the royal Berlin Hoftheater, to which she remained attached until her death.

Lasting influence On 29 May 2012 Birch-Pfeiffer was honored as the first director of the Zürich theater, where an honorary board was placed for her. On 24 February 2013 at the Theater Stok in Zürich Charlotte Birch-Pfeiffer the play was performed about Birch-Pfeiffer's life.

Works

Publications

Charlotte Johanna Birch-Pfeiffer's publications as cited by An Encyclopedia of Continental Women Writers. Gesammelte Dramatische Werke, 23 Volumes (1863–1880), or the 74 plays collected in these volumes, only two have been translated to English. Twixt Axe & Crown [Elizabeth, Prinzessin von England] (1870) and Jane Eyre, or the Orphan of Lowood (1870) Gesammelte Novellen und Erzäwungen, 3 volumes (1863–1865) Charlotte von Birch-Pfeiffer und Heinrich Laube Im Briefwechsel (1917) Alexander von Weilen (1917)

Her plays Charlotte Birch-Pfeiffer, [ca. 1859–1870]. Carte de Visite Collection, Boston Public Library Dramatization of popular novels was her specialty, for which her intimate knowledge of the technical necessities of the stage fitted her. Her plays, adapted and original, fill 23 volumes (Gesammelte dramatische Werke; Leipzig, 1863–1880). Many continued to retain the public favor. Her novels and tales were collected in three volumes (Gesammelte Novellen und Erzählungen; Leipzig, 1863–1865). Among her plays are: Dorf und Stadt (after Berthold Auerbach) Die Frau in Weiss (after Wilkie Collins) Der Glöckner von Notre Dame (after Victor Hugo) Der Goldbauer Die Grille (after George Sand) Die Günstlinge Der Herr Studiosus Hinko Kind des Glücks Steffen Langer aus Glogau oder Der holländische Kamin Der Leiermann und sein Pflegekind Mutter und Sohn Nacht und Morgen (after Edward Bulwer-Lytton) Pfefferrösel Die Waise aus Lowood (after Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre)