The Little Michus

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Adeline Genée in the original London production of The Little Michus, 1905

The Little Michus (from the French Les p’tites Michu) is an operetta by Albert Vanloo and Georges Duval, with music by André Messager, that opened in Paris on 16 November 1897. The London production had an English adaptation by Henry Hamilton, with lyrics by Percy Greenbank and was produced at Daly's Theatre in London, opening on 29 April 1905, running for 401 performances. The London production starred Robert Evett, Eric Thorne, Amy Augarde, the dancer Adeline Genée, and later Henry Lytton and Lily Elsie. It had a Broadway run in 1907.

The Little Michus was a big international hit, with a silly plot about two baby girls, switched at birth, who both fall in love with the same man.

1 Roles
2 Musical numbers
3 Reference
4 External links

[edit] Roles

General Des Ifs
Gaston Rigaud (Captain of the Hussars)
Pierre Michu (A Provision Merchant)
Aristide Vert (His Assistant)
Bagnolet (Soldier Servant to General Des Ifs)
Madame Du Tertre
Madame Rousselin
Mlle. Herpin (School Mistress)
Madame Michu (Michu's Wife)
Marie-Blanche, Blanche-Marie (The Little Michus)
Six Schoolgirls

[edit] Musical numbers

Overture

ACT I - The Playground of Mlle. Herpin's School in Paris - circa 1810

No. 1 - Opening Chorus - "We are little schoolgirls, and of course we have to do ev'ry single thing that our headmistress..."
No. 2 - Duet - Marie-Blanche & Blanche-Marie - "Two little maids so very devoted you seldom are likely to see..."
No. 3 - Song - Irma - "Father had three horses of his very, very own, a black one and a white one and a grey..."
No. 4 - Song - Gaston - "If I were King and you were Queen, and this our first and formal meeting..."
No. 5 - Trio - Marie-Blanche, Blanche-Marie & Gaston - "Michu! Michu! Michu! It's the family surname..."
No. 5a - Entrance of Soldiers
No. 6 - Song - Gaston & Chorus - "Oh! many a gallant corps today is fighting for our glorious France..."
No. 7 - Song - Marie-Blanche - "When I meet a man like that, with a fascinating way..."
No. 8 - Trio - Michu, Mme. Michu & Aristide - "So elegantly dress'd in all our Sunday best..."
No. 9 - Concerted Number - Blanche-Marie, Marie-Blanche, Mme. & M. Michu, & Pupils - "Our fairy god-mamma is here..."
No. 10 - Song - Aristide - "Oh, Marie-Blanche is so petite, she's just the very girl for me..."
No. 11 - Song - Bagnolet - "Now, little girls, attention please, we will at once begin..."
No. 12 - Finale Act I - "Your mistress we would like, my dears, to see; we've news that will surprise her, I'm afraid..."

ACT II - Salon at General Des Ifs

No. 13 - Opening Chorus & Song - Mme. du Tertre - "We have come from far and near..." & "Once there was a tiny baby..."
No. 14 - Song - Gaston - "How very like children we all of us are, whom no one seems able to teach..."
No. 15 - Quintet - Blanche-Marie, Marie-Blanche, Michu, Mme. Michu, & Bagnolet - "Hop o' my Thumb."
No. 16 - Duet - Marie-Blanche & Blanche-Marie - "Oh dear, oh dear! Oh dear, oh dear! We have made a mistake somehow..."
No. 17 - Prayer - Marie-Blanche & Blanche-Marie - "Saint Valentine, we know you are clever..."
Nos. 18 & 18a - Trio and Prayer - Marie-Blanche, Blanche-Marie & Gaston - "So you'll wed the General's daughter! ..."
No. 19 - Finale Act II - "Captain, come here! and I now will present you, so look after your P's and Q's! ..."

ACT III - Michu's Shop, Les Halles

No. 20 - Opening Chorus - "Customers we, who want to buy! If you can sell us what we need..."
No. 21 - Song - Aristide - "Strange how the unexpected should always come to pass..."
No. 22 - Song - Bagnolet - "A woman and a soldier are the same, if you take the trouble to compare..."
No. 23 - Song - Blanche-Marie - "Little Sister, I am getting discontented, yes, it's true..."
No. 24 - Chorus and Song - Mme. Michu - "Good luck to both the little brides; health, wealth and happiness besides..."
No. 25 - Duet - Blanche-Marie & Gaston - "Monsieur Gaston, believe me pray, I'm full of joyful expectation..."
No. 26 - Sextet - Marie-Blanche, Blanche-Marie, Mme. Michu, Gaston, Aristide & Michu - "Now please sit down! ..."
No. 27 - Finale Act III - "Two little maids will soon be united to husbands they love and adore..."

[edit] Reference

Vol. 6 No. 35, "The Play Pictorial An Illustrated Monthly", London, June 1905. This issue is devoted to the London production of The Little Michus, pp. 29-56. Includes illustrations of the production, the cast and sets. Two musical numbers are printed.[1]