Leopold, the head waiter at The White Horse Inn is stressed. It is high season for the hotel, and he is inundated with guests demanding his attention. Not to mention his feelings for his boss, Josepha Vogelhuber, which are definitely complicating matters. And then there’s the issue of Dr. Siedler returning to the hotel today, much to Josepha’s enthusiasm. It is just too much for him when Josepha asks him to leave a gift basket in Dr. Siedler’s room, and Leopold finds himself admitting how he really feels about her, and risking his job. Josepha threatens to fire him, but right now they need to prepare for the arrival of another distinguished guest: Kaiser Franz Joseph. Leopold does his best to keep his professionalism, but ends up causing an embarrassing scene when Josepha arrives arm in arm with Dr. Siedler. The Kaiser understands exactly what has happened, and advises Josepha to live in reality and to stop dreaming. She calls a meeting with Leopold, who is expecting to be dismissed. Instead, she dismisses him as head waiter, and promotes him to husband.
Based on the play by Oscar Blumenthal, inspired by a real-life experience, the operetta version of Im weissn Rössl has enjoyed success almost continually since its first performance, on operatic stages, in adaptations for Broadway and the West End, and several movie adaptations.
Im Weissen Rössl guide sections
