Monsieur Beaucaire (operetta)
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| Operas and operettas by André Messager |
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Mirette (1894) |
Monsieur Beaucaire is an operetta in three acts, composed by André Messager. The libretto, based on the 1900 novel by Booth Tarkington,[1] is by Frederick Lonsdale, with lyrics by Adrian Ross. The production previewed in Birmingham beginning on 7 April, 1919 before opening at the Prince's Theatre in London under the management of Frank Curzon on 19 April 1919 and transferring to the Palace Theatre on 29 July 1919, for a successful run.
Monsieur Beaucaire was also produced on Broadway in 1919-20 and enjoyed many revivals and international tours. It has remained in the repertoire in France since its Paris premiere at the Marigny Theatre, on November 21, 1925, with a French adaptation by André Rivoire and Pierre Veber, and starring André Baugé.
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".
Contents |
[edit] Roles and original cast
- Monsieur Beaucaire - Marion Green
- Philippe Molyneux - John Clarke
- Frederick Bantison - Lennox Pawle
- Rakell - Spencer Trevor
- Townbrake
- The Duke of Winterset
- Joliffe
- Bicksett
- Beau Nash - Robert Cunningham
- Francois - Yvan Servais
- Captain Badger - Percy Carr (formerly of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company)
- The Marquis de Mirepox
- Lady Mary Carlisle - Maggie Teyte
- Lucy - Alice Moffat
- 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 later, 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] Musical numbers
- Act I
- Red rose
- Trio - Going to the ball
- The Beaux and Belles
- Duet - A little more
- Come with welcome
- Duet - Lightly, lightly
- Quartette - No offence
- Act I Finale
- Act II
- When I was king of Bath
- What are names?
- That's a woman's way
- Lady Mary
- Honour and love
- Say no more
- Act II Finale
- Act III
- The ladder
- The Honours of war
- We are not speaking now
- Under the moon
- What are names
- Way for the Ambassador
- A son of France
- Act III Finale
- English maids
- I love you a little
- Philomel
- I do not know
- Gold and blue and white
[edit] Other adaptations of the Tarkington novel
A "romantic comedy" was made from the novel by Evelyn Greenleaf (Baker) Sutherland. It opened on 25 October 1902 at the Comedy Theatre, Haymarket, London, England, produced by William Greet and Lewis Waller under the management of Frank Curzon and directed by Guy Waller. The cast included Waller as Monsieur Beaucaire and Grace Lane as Lady Mary Carlisle. The production ran for a very successful 430 performances.
In addition, there was a silent film, Monsieur Beaucaire, with Rudolph Valentino in 1924, a 1930 musical film[2] and a 1946 comedy film remake.
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- Information and synopsis for the operetta
- Production and cast information for the 1919 production of the operetta
- French webpage with information about the operetta and recordings
- A review, photos and other information from the 1902 play
- Production and cast information for the 1902 play
