La Vie Parisienne |
Autumn 2006 |
Our autumn 2006 production was La Vie Parisienne, with music by Jacques Offenbach, based on the book and lyrics by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy.
Act I
Idle Parisians gather in front of the Saint-Lazare railway station to watch the arrival of foreign tourists. Two young dandies - Raoul de Gardefeu and Bobinet - are there too, but not out of idle curiosity. They are in love with the same woman, the demi-mondaine Metella, and have come to meet her. They are busy avoiding each other studiously when the Trouville train arrives, bringing Metella. The two lovers rush forward but the minx is escorted by a third beau and brazenly asserts that she doesn't know the other two. When she has gone, Gardefeu and Bobinet fall into each other's arms and patch up their quarrel; they decide that it's high time they gave up all these "fast women" and their costly ways for the homely and disinterested sweetness of the "ladies of fashion" on the boulevard Saint-Germain. Bobinet rushes off full of hope. Meanwhile Gardefeu meets his former man-servant Joseph who is now a guide employed by the Grand-Hotel. Joseph has come to fetch some customers who are arriving by the Le Havre train - the Baron de Gondremarck, a wealthy Swede, and his wife. The Swedes appear and as the baroness turns out to be enchantingly pretty, Gardefeu asks Joseph to let him take his place. Thanks to a large tip, Joseph becomes helpfulness itself and leaves Gardefeu with his new customers while freshly arrived travellers continue to pour out of the station; among them is a Brazilian millionaire obviously bent on spending his money as lavishly and as fast as he can.
Act II
Gardefeu has brought his Swedes to his own town-house, telling them that it is an annexe of the Grand-Hotel. His first care is to lodge them in separate bedrooms, with a view to fostering his own amorous projects. The baron, intent as he puts it on "stuffing himself up to there", raises no objections. His main ambition is to make the acquaintance of the lovely Metella whose countless perfections have been detailed to him by one of his Swedish friends. Who should then walk in but Metella herself, come to make things up with her betrayed lover. Gardefeu is in a quandary and explains that Metella's apartments are now occupied by the baroness. Metella leaves in a rage, bent on revenge. Meanwhile Gardefeu plans to entertain the baron with a table d'hote for this first night and then to get rid of him the next evening by sending him off to some improvised social "do", so as to give himself a clear field with the baroness. All this however, is easier said than done. Fortunately, Gabrielle the glover and Frick the boot-maker come to deliver their goods. Gardefeu takes them into his confidence and they readily undertake to collect a few friends to make up the table d'hote. Frick dresses up as a major and Gabrielle as the widow of a colonel, and dinner goes off with a swing.
Act III
Gardefeu has entrusted the organisation of his social "do" to Bobinet who has been left in charge of his aunt's town-house while the good lady is out of Paris. Bobinet, who is nursing his wounds after his first contact with the disinterestedness of the ladies of fashion, nevertheless throws himself into the fray with commendable spirit. His aunt's servants will masquerade as fashionable guests, while Bobinet himself will take on the part of the baron's host, Admiral Walter, with the dowager's chambermaid, Pauline, posturing as his wife. She is under strict injunctions to seduce the baron and keep him away from his wife as long as possible. Everyone gets marvellously tipsy and the party is a howling success.
Act IV
The Brazilian millionaire is offering a masked ball at the Cafe Anglais. Alfred the majordomo is busy instructing his waiters, advising them to close their eyes as much as they can. His advice is very sound for astonishing events are about to take place which it would be too difficult to explain. Let us merely say that Metella, anxious to win back Gardefeu, is in league with the baroness who wants to extricate her husband from the perils of Parisian life; that Gardefeu and the baron almost come to blows and that the Brazilian and Gabrielle the pretty glover discover the virtues of love at first sight. All is well that ends well.
Act I
Idle Parisians gather in front of the Saint-Lazare railway station to watch the arrival of foreign tourists. Two young dandies - Raoul de Gardefeu and Bobinet - are there too, but not out of idle curiosity. They are in love with the same woman, the demi-mondaine Metella, and have come to meet her. They are busy avoiding each other studiously when the Trouville train arrives, bringing Metella. The two lovers rush forward but the minx is escorted by a third beau and brazenly asserts that she doesn't know the other two. When she has gone, Gardefeu and Bobinet fall into each other's arms and patch up their quarrel; they decide that it's high time they gave up all these "fast women" and their costly ways for the homely and disinterested sweetness of the "ladies of fashion" on the boulevard Saint-Germain. Bobinet rushes off full of hope. Meanwhile Gardefeu meets his former man-servant Joseph who is now a guide employed by the Grand-Hotel. Joseph has come to fetch some customers who are arriving by the Le Havre train - the Baron de Gondremarck, a wealthy Swede, and his wife. The Swedes appear and as the baroness turns out to be enchantingly pretty, Gardefeu asks Joseph to let him take his place. Thanks to a large tip, Joseph becomes helpfulness itself and leaves Gardefeu with his new customers while freshly arrived travellers continue to pour out of the station; among them is a Brazilian millionaire obviously bent on spending his money as lavishly and as fast as he can.
Act II
Gardefeu has brought his Swedes to his own town-house, telling them that it is an annexe of the Grand-Hotel. His first care is to lodge them in separate bedrooms, with a view to fostering his own amorous projects. The baron, intent as he puts it on "stuffing himself up to there", raises no objections. His main ambition is to make the acquaintance of the lovely Metella whose countless perfections have been detailed to him by one of his Swedish friends. Who should then walk in but Metella herself, come to make things up with her betrayed lover. Gardefeu is in a quandary and explains that Metella's apartments are now occupied by the baroness. Metella leaves in a rage, bent on revenge. Meanwhile Gardefeu plans to entertain the baron with a table d'hote for this first night and then to get rid of him the next evening by sending him off to some improvised social "do", so as to give himself a clear field with the baroness. All this however, is easier said than done. Fortunately, Gabrielle the glover and Frick the boot-maker come to deliver their goods. Gardefeu takes them into his confidence and they readily undertake to collect a few friends to make up the table d'hote. Frick dresses up as a major and Gabrielle as the widow of a colonel, and dinner goes off with a swing.
Act III
Gardefeu has entrusted the organisation of his social "do" to Bobinet who has been left in charge of his aunt's town-house while the good lady is out of Paris. Bobinet, who is nursing his wounds after his first contact with the disinterestedness of the ladies of fashion, nevertheless throws himself into the fray with commendable spirit. His aunt's servants will masquerade as fashionable guests, while Bobinet himself will take on the part of the baron's host, Admiral Walter, with the dowager's chambermaid, Pauline, posturing as his wife. She is under strict injunctions to seduce the baron and keep him away from his wife as long as possible. Everyone gets marvellously tipsy and the party is a howling success.
Act IV
The Brazilian millionaire is offering a masked ball at the Cafe Anglais. Alfred the majordomo is busy instructing his waiters, advising them to close their eyes as much as they can. His advice is very sound for astonishing events are about to take place which it would be too difficult to explain. Let us merely say that Metella, anxious to win back Gardefeu, is in league with the baroness who wants to extricate her husband from the perils of Parisian life; that Gardefeu and the baron almost come to blows and that the Brazilian and Gabrielle the pretty glover discover the virtues of love at first sight. All is well that ends well.
CAST
|
Gabrielle, a glove-maker
Brazil, a millionaire holidaymaker Baron Gondremarck, a visitor to Paris Baroness Gondremarck, a visitor to Paris Metella, a fashionable coquette Bobinet Raoul Marcel, maître d'hotel Pauline |
Sharon Brandelli
David Peston Adrian Gray Karen Harvey Sarah Wagman-Levy Elliot Berman Gary Jervis Nigel Kelly Kate Lewis |
Julie
Louise Pierre Jacques Josephine Alphonse Station Master Dancers Chorus of Parisians, Railway Staff, Tourists, Guests and Servants |
Janice Edgar
Linda Bryceland Grant Graves Roger Dowlen Sarah Wallis Chris St. John Tom Goulder Emily Elliott Emily Taylor Ken Johnson Alan Roberts Kim Thompson Gillian Tompsett Jennie Wilding |
ORCHESTRA
|
Conductor
Violins Viola Cello Double Bass |
Graham Nichols
Alison Wyatt Maggie Diffley Moyra Presly Alex Barnes Adrian Acolatse |
Flute
Clarinet Trumpet Percussion Piano |
Sarah Drake
Andrew Wyatt Chris Evans Doug Harper Margaret Dewar |
PRODUCTION
|
Director
Musical Director Set Construction Scenic Artist Lighting Costume and Props |
Chris Hubbard
Margaret Dewar Colin Tucker Jill Kelly Stan Head Haslemere Wardrobe Chris Hubbard Pam Erwood Emily Elliott Doris Griffiths Janice Edgar |
Dressing Room Assistants
Make-up Adviser Wigs Stage Manager Front of House Box Office Bar |
Pam Erwood
Doris Griffiths Maggie Lamb Janet Jomain Tammy Lye Friends of the Society Doris Griffiths Friends of the Society |