The one-act play “Refund” by Fritz Krinthy is a witty satire that follows the story of Wasserkopf, a disgruntled former student who demands a refund from his old school after feeling unprepared for life post-graduation. As he confronts the principal and teachers, hilarity ensues as they navigate his absurd demands and antics.
Wasserkopf, having struggled to secure a stable job and feeling let down by his education, storms into the principal’s office demanding a refund of his tuition fees. He argues passionately, citing his lack of success and the school’s failure to adequately equip him for the real world. Despite his aggressive demeanor, the principal agrees to a re-examination under one condition – if he fails the test, he gets his refund.
What follows is a series of comical interactions as Wasserkopf faces each teacher, insulting them with rude names and providing ludicrous answers. However, the teachers, determined to prove him wrong, twist his answers into correctness using clever reasoning. Even when Wasserkopf blatantly calls them names and gives nonsensical replies, they maintain their cool to show him as an exemplary student.
The climax arrives when Wasserkopf is asked to calculate the refund amount, a question he initially deems tough. To everyone’s surprise, he calculates the exact amount accurately. The teachers, now cornered, have no choice but to declare him excellent and dismiss him from the school.
“Refund” masterfully combines humor and satire to poke fun at the education system and human nature’s tendency to save face, even in absurd situations. Through Wasserkopf’s antics and the teachers’ clever maneuvers, the play delivers a lighthearted yet thought-provoking commentary on academic expectations and the quest for validation.
