Monsieur Beaucaire (operetta)
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- For information about the films based on the same novel, see Monsieur Beaucaire.
Monsieur Beaucaire is an operetta in three acts, composed by André Messager, with lyrics by Adrian Ross and a book by Frederick Lonsdale, based on the novel by Booth Tarkington. It opened at the Prince's Theatre in London under the management of Frank Curzon on April 19, 1919 and transferred to the Palace Theatre on July 29, 1919, running for a successful 400 performances. It also ran on Broadway in 1919-20 and in Paris in 1926 and toured internationally. There were many revivals, and Monsieur Beaucaire has remained in the repertoire in France since its 1926 production.
Messager's career in London, which included a six-year stint as music director at Covent Garden, concluded with Monsieur Beaucaire, his second and last opera in English. Some of the most popular songs are "I do not know", "Red Rose" and "Philomel".
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[edit] Roles
- Monsieur Beaucaire
- Philippe Molyneux
- Frederick Bantison
- Rakell
- Townbrake
- The Duke of Winterset
- Joliffe
- Bicksett
- Beau Nash
- Francois
- Captain Badger
- The Marquis de Mirepox
- Lady Mary Carlisle
- Lucy
- Countess of Greensbury
[edit] Synopsis
Act I
The musical is set in Bath in the early 18th Century. Beaucaire is posing as a barber employed by the French Ambassador. He is actually the Duc d'Orleans, the son of the King of France, a fact only known to his valet and his friend, Molyneux. Beaucaire is in love with Lady Mary Carlisle, who is herself courted by the Duke of Winterset. Beaucaire hosts a card game, where a number of gentlemen lose most of their money to him. In the second round, Beaucaire plays Winterset for high stakes. At the climax of the hand, Beaucaire exposes Winterset as a cheat. Winterset threatens to kill his opponent, but Beaucaire reveals that they are observed by his servants and the noble Molyneux. As the price of Beaucaire's silence, Winterset takes him to Lady Rellerton's ball to introduce him to Lady Mary.
Molyneux is in love with Lady Mary's cousin Lucy and courts her at the ball. Beaucaire charms the company, and Lady Mary asks to be left alone with him. He begs the rose in her hair. She says that he must earn it by escorting the aged Countess of Greenbury to supper. To obtain revenge, Winterset persuades Captain Badger, a famous swordsman, to quarrel with Beaucaire, who challenges him to a duel. They fight on the terrace and, to everyone's surprise, Beaucaire is the victor. He takes the old Countess into supper and receives his rose from Lady Mary.
Act II
At a 'Pastoral Fete' at Mr Bantison's house outside Bath, Lady Mary is still smitten with Beaucaire, although she has many suitors. Lucy finally gets Molyneux alone, to get him to promise to be hers alone for the evening, when he is summoned away by Beaucaire. Lucy accuses him of going to another woman but he denies it in a romantic song. But the summons is a trick of Winterset. Once Molyneux has gone, he denounces Beaucaire as the barber. One by one all of the suitors attack Beaucaire, and are all wounded. An assault by the massed servants of his opponents threatens to defeat Beaucaire, when Francois and his fellow servants join in the battle and repulse the attackers. Lady Mary, believing herself deceived, storms off. Beaucaire is seriously wounded.
Act III
A week passes. It has been announced that the French Ambassador will attend the pump room that evening, and guards have been placed to prevent Beaucaire from attending. His previously defeated opponents sing of how they bear 'The Honours of War'. Molyneux is still having trouble with Lucy but manages to convince her to arrange a secret meeting between Mary and Beaucaire. Beaucaire explains the situation to her, and asks if the identity of a lover truly matters? Lady Mary agrees. Winterset and his followers enter, followed by the Ambassador. Everyone is amazed when the Ambassador enters and kneels to the presumed barber, hailing him 'A Son of France'. The King of France is dead, and, out of danger, Beaucaire reveals himself as the Duke of Orleans and announces that Mary will be his future Duchess, to everyone's delight.
[edit] Other influences of the Tarkington novel
A "romantic comedy" was made from the novel and played successfully in London in 1902. In addition, a silent film, Monsieur Beaucaire, was made in 1924, and there was a 1946 film comedy remake.
