The Origin of The Black Rider
Der Freischutz (The Free-Shooter), an old German folktale on which The Black
Rider is based, was first published in the early 1800’s in a collection of ghost
stories called Gespensterbuch by Johann August Apel and Friedrich Laun.
It was adapted into a widely celebrated opera by Carl Maria von Weber in
1821. The opera, also named Der Freischutz, deviates from the intentions of
the original story by giving the story a happy ending. Staying true to 19th century
romanticism, a Deus Ex Machina is used in the form of a hermit, who sets everything
right.
In 1823, Thomas de Quincy wrote a short story adaptation of his own: The Fatal
Marksman, which is based on the original ghost story. The Fatal Marksman, along
with the original tale of Der Freischutz, would later inspire Robert Wilson,
Tom Waits, and William S. Burroughs to create The Black Rider.
Their exciting and innovative collaboration premiered in 1990 at the Thalia Theatre
in Hamburg. As Waits explains, "Burroughs found some of the branches of the story,
and let them grow into more metaphorical things in all of our lives every day
that, in fact, are deals with the Devil that we’ve made. What is cunning about
those deals is that we’re not aware we’ve made them. And when they come to fruition,
we are shocked and amazed."
In 1998, the November Theatre production of The Black Rider premiered at the
Edmonton Fringe. - It was the World English Language Premiere and has since
gone on to a successful North American tour.
Synopsis
Wilhelm, a city clerk, is in love with the royal huntsman’s
daughter, Kathchen. In order to marry her he must prove himself to be
a worthy hunter, a skill at which the fumbling clerk is inept. While
attempting to hunt, Wilhelm meets a devilish Peg Leg man who offers him some
help in the form of magic bullets - guaranteed to always hit their mark. With
these bullets, Wilhelm brings home enough dead game to satisfy Kathchen’s
father. Their wedding day is announced, as is the test that Wilhelm must
pass on his wedding day to prove himself a true shot - the shooting of a wooden
bird from a tree. Having spent all of his magic bullets, Wilhelm returns
to the crossroads with hopes of meeting Peg Leg to get one more special bullet
for this final shot. Peg Leg eagerly gives him the desired bullets, but
with a presaging warning: “Six are yours and hit the mark, and one is
mine and hits the dark.” At the trial, all of the wedding guests
are gathered in anticipation as Wilhelm takes aim and fires a shot that can’t
miss...