the play takes place in vienna, austria in professor mashkan's rehearsal studio. it begins in the spring of 1986 and continues through to summer. the national and international political background is kurt waldheim's election to austrian federal president in the spring of 1986. because of waldheim's alleged involvement in war crimes in the balkans during world war ii his nomination was fervently opposed worldwide, e.g. by the world jewish congress. the protests, however, resulted in a stubborn reaction of the austrian electorate and a clear waldheim victory in a run-off election. during his presidency he was isolated internationally and put on the us nazi watchlist.