ALFONS "Klasse"

“That I came to Germany was a coincidence,” says Alfons. “That I stayed, was not.” For
over three decades now, “Germany’s favorite Frenchman” (FAZ) has been living here, in the “land of poets
and plumbers,” as Alfons likes to call his second home. It was meant to be a short episode. But then
life got in the way: Alfons fell in love - with Germany, with the Germans. “Class!” is the title of his
new, now eighth full-length stage play. It has become a love letter - and an urgent
wake-up call at the same time.
The wake-up call is not only for his audience. Originally, it was aimed at a school class that Alfons
happened to visit to discuss with the young people. But: “Some young people said nothing at
first,” Alfons recalls of this first encounter. “From some I heard, ‘Our country
doesn’t work!’ from others, ‘That’s due to democracy - we should try something else!’
Some quickly recognized: ‘There are no trial lessons for dictatorships!’ That all
moved me a lot.” So one random visit quickly turns into countless, very conscious
conversations and discussions. Thanks to Alfons’ persistence, thanks to a great teacher - and thanks to a
lot of young people who quickly shed their “I-don’t-care” attitudes and join Alfons in
searching: for the roots of our democracy, the value of tolerance, for the cement that
holds this country together - and also for the extremely lovable traits of its inhabitants.
“Dear Germans, you are totally great - but you don’t realize it!” Emmanuel Peterfalvi, who is called “Alfons” in
real life, laughs somewhat incredulously: “A great example: Compromises - you are really good at that!”
he says, with a broad smile, but absolute seriousness. “You might not find it sexy, but it’s super: you solve
problems by talking to each other. That’s not normal, just look around! In France,‘compromis’ means the same as ‘kompromittieren’ - and no one wants that! But for you, the word
means something entirely different: accommodation, helpfulness, togetherness. I know you think that’s
natural, but it’s not: Kindness as the foundation of society - that’s a
great achievement!”
Human kindness - this attitude is part of Alfons’ DNA like the dachshund gaze and the amused
smile in the corners of his mouth. In 2021, Peterfalvi, now equipped with dual Franco-German
citizenship, received the Federal Cross of Merit for his services to tolerance, humanity, and
international understanding. Whether on marketplaces, television screens, or theater stages:
Bringing people together is his purpose in life. And it is increasingly becoming a larger-than-life
task, in the face of rampant filter bubble fanaticism, pop star populists, and crumbling
firewalls. “When I arrived in Germany over thirty years ago, this was a slipper
democracy: well-organized, routine, cozy - and incredibly stable. Today, that’s different: The
foundation is shaking!” No reason to dust off and leave - quite the opposite.
In “Class!” Alfons, in his inimitable style, acts as a repairer of the dilapidated
bridges over the chasms in our society. Warm-hearted, witty, and wonderfully far-sighted, he reports
on his school visits, delves into the madness of the world, and appeals to the strengths of the people.
And in doing so, Alfons, the cult reporter, passionate storyteller, and fluffy philosopher, leaves no
doubt as to why it has become his calling to go back to school: “I feel that this young generation has something to say - that’s good, after all, it is the foundation of the future. But
they don’t say it because they don’t feel heard - and that is dramatic.” His intense conversations have
an impact in both directions: They are the cornerstone for Alfons’ newly founded “Grand-Mère
Foundation,” with which he aims to turn his school visits into a real democracy project. And they
are the impetus for this new program: “As controversial as the discussions are, in one thing
we always agree in the end: We need to talk to each other more and learn to listen to each other better.
So: Let’s get started - the time of slipper democracy is over!”

Doors open at 7:00 PM, start at 8:00 PM, tickets available through Ticket Regional and all known advance booking offices.