Weh dem, der lügt Lustspiel in fünf Aufzügen

by Franz Grillparzer

"Weh dem, der lügt" by Franz Grillparzer is a comedy first performed in 1838. When Bishop Gregor's nephew is held captive by Germanic tribes, kitchen boy Leon volunteers for a daring rescue mission—but with one impossible condition: he must succeed without telling a single lie. Set during the Merovingian era, this witty play explores truth and deception as Leon uses clever wordplay to navigate between two warring cultures. The premiere sparked controversy, yet the work later became recognized as a classic of German comedy.