The Austrian author Anna Gmeyner wrote "Automatenbüfett" (Automated Buffet) in 1932, a time of profound upheaval. "Europe is a powder keg, into which the spark could fall at any moment," the play states. Despite its political explosiveness, it paints a warmhearted portrait of the so-called little people—and the very poor—who make their way through life with diligence, wit, and resourcefulness, without losing either their humor or their optimism. In the end, everything goes wrong, but one thing remains certain: lust and love will endure.