Mein Problem ist

Mein Problem ist

Situation

Three people—Max, the waiter distributing masks, and Elisa, who lights up at the presence of a story—approach Ermanno and Oliver's table.

Oliver: 'Ist das meine Maske?'

Waiter: 'Ja, das ist deine Maske.'

As soon as he puts on the mask, Oliver remembers an episode from his past: during a play as Hamlet, he had a memory lapse right on the words 'To be or not...'. So, Max takes a pencil and draws six objects on the paper tablecloth, pointing to them and pronouncing their names aloud.

Diaologue 1

Ermanno points to an object (see the drawing) and asks Oliver:

• "Ist dein Problem deine Rolle in Shakespeares Stück?"
• "Ist dein Problem die Bühne?"
• "Ist dein Problem das Rampenlicht?"
• "Ist dein Problem das Publikum?"
• "Ist dein Problem die Strumpfhose?"
• "Ist dein Problem der Totenkopf?"
• "Ist dein Problem dein Gedächtnis?"
• "Ist dein Problem deine Konzentration?"
• "Ist dein Problem dein Lampenfieber?"

Oliver responds each time with:

"Ja, mein Problem ist ..."
(Example: "Ja, mein Problem ist das Publikum.")

Dialogue 2

Now Elisa asks Oliver the same questions. But something shifts: Oliver looks at her and changes his mind.

He always responds negatively.

Elisa asks:

• "Ist dein Problem deine Rolle in Shakespeares Stück?"
• "Ist dein Problem die Bühne?"
• "Ist dein Problem das Rampenlicht?"
• "Ist dein Problem das Publikum?"
• "Ist dein Problem die Strumpfhose?"
• "Ist dein Problem der Totenkopf?"
• "Ist dein Problem dein Gedächtnis?"
• "Ist dein Problem deine Konzentration?"
• "Ist dein Problem dein Lampenfieber?"

Oliver responds:

"Nein, mein Problem ist nicht ..."
(Example: "Nein, mein Problem ist nicht die Bühne.")

Oliver's Homework

Oliver is fascinated by Elisa's ability to change reality. He mentally reviews the dialogue he had with her.

Ermanno's Homework

Ermanno, while having breakfast, thinks back to what happened to Oliver during the performance of Hamlet. He has the following thought:

Is that only your problem, Oliver? Ist das nur dein Problem, Oliver?

Oreste's Challenge

Your extra exercise is waiting for you at the end of the lesson!