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Music .Emmerich KalmanBook...Julius Brammer, Alfred GriinwaldEnglish Book,Lyrics James StuartConductor J. Lynn ThompsonArtistic Director James StuartOrchestra/Cast ofThe Ohio Light OperaCASTOdette ..Julie WrightPrince Radjami John PickleMarietta ..Susan MillerNapoleon Brian WoodsLouis-Philippe Buck HujabrePimprinette... .Daniel NeerArmand .Eric FennellTrebizonde .Stephen RushingColonelParker John-Arthur MillerDr. Cohen Aric SchnellerDewa Singh Marc CallahanJohnny Brendan CookeFifi ..Julianne GearhartGeorges Jesse PadgettJumping Jaclc Carol HagemanChorus: Jessica Bowers, Christi Camp,Brendan Cooke, John Dow, GretaFeeney, Julianne Gearhart, TaraGeneralovich, Kelly Kaduce, AnnMcKee, Chad Millar, Aaron Odom,Jesse Padgett, Elizabeth Peterson, EricRieger, Amy Warchol, Jennifer White,Suzanne Woods, Candace Zaiden.

Ltd.

NotesKilman in his late twenties had

two great successes in Vienna: AutumnManoeuvers (1908) and Ocr Zigeunerprimas(The Gypsy Virtuoso, 1909). During WorldWar I as a patriotic gesture he revised anearlier operetta, The Good Comrade, as IGave Gold for Iron. (Ironically, thepropaganda was reversed in the 1916Broadway adaptation Her SoldierBoy.)But it was The Gypsy Princess (1915) thatsolidified his position as a dominant figurein the silver age of Viennese operetta. Hisfirst post-war hit was The Little Dutch Girl(1920), which ran over 450 performances.

His next work for Vienna, DieBajadere(Carl theater, December 23,1921), hada German-language libretto by JuliusBrammer and Alfred Grunwald, who hadearlier supplied texts for Leo Fall's TheRoseof Stambouland Oscar Straus' TheLastWaltz and subsequently were to collabo-rate with Kalman on CountessMaritza, TheCircus Princess,and The Duchessof Chicago.The Brammer/Grtinwald libretto, pre-sented here in a new English version byOhio Light Opera artistic director JamesStuart, is one of those "show-within-a-

show" stories during which the plot of astage production is paralleled by theprincipals' love affair. Specifically, PrinceRadjami of Lahore attends the Parispremiere of an operetta, La Boyodere,

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dealing with the love of an Indian prince fora temple dancer; he falls in love with theprima donna who plays the temple dancerand eventually overcomes her resistance.(Another version of this story has been madefamous by the ballet of the same title thatMarius Petipa choreographed in 1877.)Prince Radjami's passionate pursuit ofOdette Darimonde alternates with a comic

subplot that has a would-be ladykiller,Napoleon St. Cloche, luring a wife awayfrom her husband (Marietta and Louis-

Philippe), only to find that she alwaysprefers the man she's not married to.Kalman's score has, of course, its quota ofwaltzes but also such 1920s dances as the

fox-trot and the shimmy!On Broadway Die Bajaderewas

transmogrified as TheYankeePrincess.Opening on October 2,1922, it offeredtheatre goers an alternative to BlossomTime(celebrating its first anniversary) and Abie'sIrish Rose(then in its fifth month). It waspraised by TheNew YorkTimesas "a mini-ature grand opera" with a "quite gorgeous"score, but unfortunately, its run was short.

Emmerich Kalman, who was born in

Hungary in 1882, received an excellentmusical education at the Budapest Academyof Music, where his fellow students includedBart6k and Kodaly. As a young man hewrote music criticism for a Budapest paperand also tried to establish himself as a

serious composer. The popularity of his

EmmerichKalman

humorous cabaret songs, however,prompted Kalman's friends to urge himto try his hand at operetta. He settledin Vienna where most of his operettasreceived their premieres. After theAnschluss he moved to Paris, and whenthe Hungarian government allied itselfwith Hitler, he became an Americancitizen. He eventually returned to Paris,where he died in 1953.

Alfred Grunwald took a similar route

after the Anschluss. His son Henry, formereditor of Time and u.s. ambassador to

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Austria, recalls in his recent autobiography, One Man's America, how op~r~tt~ help~d tosave his family during their flight from Paris. Stopped by police in southern France,Alfred Grunwald distracted his interrogator by crooning a waltz from one of theoperettashe had workedon.The ,elderly policeman, stirred by nostalgia,said: "I remember we used to like todance to that tune," and waved the

Grunwalds through "with a broad smile." The composer's signature

It was in the summer of 1986 that 1 met Lily Azouz.My first impression of her was that Margaret Sullivan,now graciously grown older, had left Budapest (and the"Shop Around the Corner") to attend our production ofDie Czardasfiirsten. Petite, with bobbed-hair and daintilydressed in a light summer dress, with eyes radiatingsparks of fond interest, Lily was introduced to me after theperformance.

The truth of the matter was this woman had not come

from Budapest, but from Albuquerque. She had read inOpera News that the Ohio Light Opera was planningKilman's The Gypsy Princess and decided to attend theoperetta she loved so much but had never seen. The songswere certainly familiar to her: her mother had been veryfond of them and had sung them to Lily as a child. Following her arrival in the UnitedStates in 1940 at age sixteen Lily had doubted she would have the opportunity to seeany of Kalman's works. Now, 10 and behold, The Gypsy Princess was to be performedby an operetta company in a small Ohio town. 1don't imagine it ever entered Lily'smind that she would not attend a performance. She called our box-office, ordered aticket and, when the time arrived, she boarded a Greyhound, embarking upon the twoand a half day journey from central New Mexico to northeast Ohio.

Lily Azouz was thrilled with the production, but disappointed she had not known

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of the previous year's Countess Maritza."You will do it again, Dr. Stuart, won'tyou? And you must do Die Zirkus-prinzessin and Der Zigeunerprimasand...and, above all, you must do DieBajadere! It is so beautiful." 1 explained toLily that while 1 had directed The MerryWidow and Countess Maritza and had a

passing acquaintance with The ChocolateSoldier, that apart from these, 1was gen-erally ignorant of the Viennese operettas ofKalman, Lehar, Oscar Straus, Heuberger,and Leo Fall.

1also told her that very few of theseworks have usable English translations andorchestral materials are hard to come by.But Lily would not be put off: "I will havemy husband make a tape of Die Bajadereand, when you hear how really beautiful itis, you will find a way to produce it."When her tape arrived 1 was in the throesof finishing up our season, so 1put offlistening for sometime. What 1 heard when1finally turned my attention to it was aravishing score. It was obvious, as DonaldRosenberg, music critic of The ClevelandPlain Dealer, would later write, there are"miles of glorious music...equal to thegreatest achievements of Johann StraussII, Franz Lehar and other masters of theoperetta art." But what could 1do? Therewas no translation and just then 1wasconcentrating on putting Millocker's DerBettelstudent into English. It would have

to wait. And wait it did.

For the next six summers, Lily Azouzfaithfully boarded that Greyhound bus inthe summer to come to Wooster. She

enjoyed seeing the country on these trips,but by 1993 felt the sights were sufficientlyetched into her memory-and turned inher Greyhound ticket for a seat on a Boeing737. The air flight allowed her more timein Wooster to see more performances andmore occasions to hound me to mount a

production of Die Bajadere.At some time during these years-I

think it was 1993- the Millers of Culver

City, California came into my life. Mikeand Nan are undoubtedly the most ardentaficionados of light opera around. They, too,had read in Opera News about a troupe inthe Western Reserve of Ohio whose

improbable schedule included seven oreight productions of operettas during itsnine-week season. And as the Ohio LightOpera is a repertory company, they wereintrigued to learn that one could see all theproductions within a seven day period.This couple was used to travelling toEurope---to Vienna, Paris, Berlin, Prague,Budapest, London-anywhere light operawas being performed-to attend. So whynot give Ohio a go?

When we first met, Mike Millerhesitantly inquired if 1would object to hismaking some repertoire suggestions, towhich 1 replied, "Of course not." Most of

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the titles he came up with were familiar tome (although a few definitely fell into theabstruse category). High on his list wereLeo Fall's Die Rose van Stambul (which,by the way, was another of Lily's favoritesand one for which I'm sure she will now

launch a new campaign) and-yet again-Emmerich Kalman's Die Bajadere. Mikeoffered to supply me with a German scoreand also some printed musical numbersfrom a 1922 Broadway version whichhit the boards with a title of The Yankee

Princess. (Needless to say, there had beenmany changes from the original in thisproduction). Mike also sent along a tapeof excerpts sung in German, Russian,Estonian, and Hungarian!

On a trip to Paris that fall, I visited awonderful shop on Rue Legendre, LesMuses Galanteswhich dealt in old and

used music. Along with the French scoresone expected to find was a remarkablecollection of Viennese operetta in Frenchversions (the shop-owner had been a well-known operetta tenor.) And there I foundLa Bayadere. As I am more at home withFrench than German, this was a godsend. Iwent on to Vienna where Richard Toeman,then the Director of Josef Weinberger Ltd.,London, had arranged an introduction forme at GlackenVerlag.When they learned ofmy interest in La Bayadere they providedme with a German libretto of the entire

work. My colleague Richard Figge,Professor of German at The College ofWooster, kindly agreed to do a literaltranslation into English. Thereafter I beganto create a viable version for our stage. ByMarch of the following spring we wereready to send parts to the singers.

One always worries how a "new"piece will be accepted. After the first read-throughs of Bayadere there was no doubtabout the feelings of the cast and orchestra:they loved it. But what about the public? Iknew I would have support from Lily andMike and Nan. I learned that Yvonne

Kalman, the composer's daughter, wasplanning to attend the opening with herhusband, Hellmuth Klumpp. We wereconfident of at least five 'yea' votes!

Opening night proved that there was noreason to doubt or to fear. The Bayaderewas a great success: From the reviewers weread: "OLO Triumphant in The Bayadere;"Bayadere music soars...thespecialKalmantouch is evident in a multiplicity of styles.There are waltzes that shift hauntingly betweenmajor and minor keys, reflecting the composer'sViennese and Hungarian heritage. Fox trotsshow up merrily, as do novelty numbers ofgleeful melodic personality. Kdlmdn appearsnever to have been at a loss for musical phrasesof shapely beauty and inventive charm."

I think we all went to bed with happysmiles on our faces that night!

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James Stuart has been universally acknowledged,hailed and feted for his work in the lyric theateras a scholar, educator and performing artist. Heperformed with opera companies, symphonies andmusical theatre troupes here and abroad, onstage withthe greats-Sutherland, Sills, Tucker and Merrill-andtwenty years ago founded the Ohio Light Opera, thatrare jewel nestled in the Ohio farmlands. As a recordproducer, my only regret is not to have known andworked with him and his company sooner.

Following the Newport Classic release of OLO's1997Eileenand Veronique, Jim invited me out torecord-in part-this Bayadere and the summer 1998production of Chocolate Soldier, the idea being tocombine actual recording sessions of some of themusical numbers with live tapings of the perfor-

James Stuart with Yvonne Kalman. mances. One runs some obvious technical risksdaughter of the composer. here-the objective being to improve the qualityof the final product, to eliminate (and not create)listenerdistractions. With his customary theatre savvy, Jim provedthe ideal collaborator. Furthermore, his English version ofBayadere is a delight (the composer's own daughter Yvonneattended and reportedly loved what she saw and heard). Forthis CD, we opted to present the lush musical score prettymuch in its entirety, but to abbreviate some of the spokendialogue, supplied not by Kalman, but by his Germanlibrettists (the more low-brow, and often hokey, comic materialis perhaps better enjoyed seen onstage than heard onrecording.) As The Bayadere is set in Paris, Jim wisely leavesthe score's French-language references untranslated, butchanges the German words (not Kalman's first language, bythe way) into the entertaining English lyrics heard here.

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John OstendorfNewpo,' CIass;cPmdu,",

Armand (gossiping) coveredpalace...In thesecondact,40 dancinggirls Fill (stopshim)appear.And theysaythat the costumesArmand!Bequiet.You'll spoilthefor all 40 took only threeyardsof ma- whole thing if you giveit away.terial. Someare calling it "undressed AGentleman (totheother.l)

CD ONE,TRACK1 sin," others-"naked innocence." Darimonde asthe bayadere.

(Paris.Lobbyof the Cbatelettheatre) Fill (laughing) Darimonde: ladiesse,Iasuperbe,Introduction/Chorus Willyou be quiet? lasupreme.ManDieu,that in itself

How enchanting,how diviDe! A Lady is enough! (moregossiping)Rather, quite exotic! Whyis theoperettacalled "1be An Usher (as the bellring.l)Headyasa vintagewine, Bayadere?" tadies and gentleman,pleasetakeSensuousand erotic! your places.Thesecondact is ahoutBytomorrow to be sure, to begin.(TheyretU11lto theirseats.)Ev'ryonewill be aware AllOfthisspectacled'amour Howenchanting,howdivine!..Called "TheBayadere."Trebizoodedidn'tskimp on cost-Such volupttlOus settings-Andthe costumes(for wordsI'm lost). It's a hit, I'm betting!Is it a smash?Agreatsuccess?Oh, do say"Yes,it is a smash!"Armand, OtllersTomorrow thatfirstact songwillbe sungthroughoutParis:"Lotus flowe/; I love you so, "Swore a hutte/jly rare.

"Lotusflower, please say it's so,Tell me that you could care!""Non, Monsieur Papillon, I can't,"Laughed the fair Lotus jlowC/:

"Non, Monsieur Papillon, I shan't,Although gold be your dowet:.. "Fill

Well,the first actwassimply divine!

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ACT ONE

DIALOGUE TRACK2

(1'rebizonde, the theatre manager;

Pimprinette, director of the claque,and Dt: Cohen, criticfOl' "LeFigaro, " in evening dress, enter.)

Pimprinette (to Trehizonde)There'sno denyingit...a showwithoutAchille Pimprinette directing tlIeclaquewill findsuccessdifficult.Ordinaty claquesthatjust applaudyou can find in anytheatre in Paris-

Arm,md (impatiently) I ammuch more thorough, moreBecausein the secondact Odette scientific, shallwe say,in myDarimonde appearsas a bayadere... approach to the art of the claque. Iyou know, an Indian temple dancer, analyzethepsyche of the audience!and so captivatesthe Indian prince- Pimprinettesaysit, Pimprinettethepart that HenriDuvalis singing- b'l1at'anteesit. A tout a l'heure!that he goesoff with her. Of course, Dr, Cohen (watchinghim go)notuntilthe third act, to a rose And somewhereout therewill beHis

Elegant ladies at Le ChiJtelet.

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Highuess,PrinceRadjamiof tahore. wewent elephanthunting together.Trebizonde ('Utprised) (aside) Neversawhim in mylife!How is that,Doctor?PrinceIIadjami Marietta (,udde/zlyinteresled)here?Doyouknow that for a fact? Why,dearest!How wonderful! YouDr, Cohen mtlst getus an invitation from theI haveit fromhis adjutant.(Theyexit; prince!Marietta and Napoleon enler. He Napoleon (wasn't ready jar this)is a ji'ivolous young Parisian bon An invitation? Oh, bnt, of course...vivant, she thepretty yotlng wife an invitation! As well as done!ql'a rich chocolate manufacturez:) When the opportunity arises I shall

Marietta (as the otbers depart) say to him "Dear friend..."Sir,you know I am a respectable Mariettawife whosereputationisunsullied, Theopportunityhas arisen.nntainted, and unassailable. ThePrince is here.Napoleon Napoleon (befilddled)A pity! Here? Here in Pat'is? Oh, howM'l1'ietta very nice.Yon are horrid' Marietta

Napoleon He'scoming to the theatretonightSo this is tbe thanksfor my three andyou will be here towelcomeyearsof self-sacrificinglove!All for him. Isn't that nice?your sake.You said thatonly a Napoleon (to hez)globetrotter could possiblyinterest Verynice! (aside) I haven'ttheyou...andI immediatelybeganto trot. slightestideawhathe lookslike.Marietta (sarcastically) Marietta (flirting)Yes,all theway to India! Oh,Nappy,darling!ThenI canNapoleon (aside) count on you?Andthen,whenweIf sheonlyknew that I got no havethe invitation...further than Lyon' NapoleonMarietta Then...?

Youwrotemefrom tahore, so I Mariettathought perhaps you might kuow ...then I'll seewhatI cando foryou.Prince Radjami. NapoleonNapoleon (hasn'ta clue) At last, my rendezvous?Knowhim?DoI know him?Why,

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TRACK3

Napoleon

It'spasseto be true andnever stray.Justa furtivetrystwhereyou'll bekissed.It can't be missed,I'll notdesist,so don't resist.Marietta

Cbermonsiell1; I'm afraidI mustdemur.This menage a trois you're planning

I ambanning.I'll not beyourjille dejoie.Tho' it's modish, it's explodish.Thankyou, "no." Ta-ta!NapoleonMy sweetdarling, pleasel<nowthis-Marriagevowsnowadaysarehit-or-miss.If it is true thatlove is blind,Why must you be so disinclinedTosharca rcndezvous,justmoietvous,We'llleavetheworld behind.I'd like to think it's one for all,

Thoughyou insist it'sall for one,Still, on my knees to you I'll crawl.

Youare my moon, my stat'S, my sun.Marietta (delighted)

Darlingmine,I'mobligedto towtheline.Don't yon tllink yon're being trashy,Somewhat flashy, awfully splashy,Verylibertine?

I coofess,I wouldloveto acquiesce.Yes,the thought I find inviting,Tho' indicting, still exciting,eachcaress.

NapoleonVirtuein today'shaut set

(

Is very seldom met.

In the provinces maybe,

Now and then, terribly bourgeoisie!Both

Yes, it is true... (Th<ry dance, singsome more, and then go.)

TRACK4

Pimprinette (enters with c!aquers)Immediatement! Oh, gentlemen,we stand here...all very non-chalant...sans souci...tres hlase.

Then, at the right moment, we offera heartybut ruscreet"Hurrah!"Usher (/i'om the stage door)

His Highness's car!(An Indian footman enters

carrying a houquet of red roses.)Claquers (think he's the prince)Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

Pimprinette (Daniet Neer)

Pimprinette (alarmed)Non, non, non! Messieurs!That is not thePtince!

Claquers (Dewa Singh the Prince's

adjutant enters and again.)Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

Pimprinette (VelY upset)Please, gentlemen, please. That isnot the Prince! (goes to the en-trance) But, here he comes now!

(Prince IIadjami enters. He isVelYyoung, but dressed elegantly:tail~, white vest, gloves, cane, andc!oak--quite European except for

a white silk Indian headdress)Claquers (now they have it right)Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

Radjami (withagenuinesmile)Mercibien...youare tookind...too

charming. (Pimprinettenudgesl'rebizonde forward.)

Trehizonde (nervous, pompou;)Your Highness...Permitme towelcomeyou to LeChatelet.Ilon-oring us thuslyis a further proof...Pimprinette (prompting)...oftheharmonious bonds...Trebizonde

...of the harmonious bondsthat bind

your country with our IIepublique!AllHurrah! Hurrah! Bravo! Bravo'

Radjami (expressing bis thanks in

the Indian manner, right hand to

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mouth andfiJrehead.)

I thank you, Monsieur Ie Directeur.I amdelighted.You are presentingthiseveninga new operetta, "TheBayadere, " and the setting ismyhomeland, Inrua?Trebizonde

Certainement! And our greatDarimonde, sheplaysthe bayadere.Wehopeyou will be pleased.Radjami (surplised)

OdetteDarimonde!Howexciting...I'veseenher at the opera,at balls,attheraces...allthe laruesstareat me. But

not she!Shecharms me, she excitesme, therefore sheinterestsme...

ENSEMBLE TRACK5

Odette (can be heard by all,

singing in the theatre)Yours will I be evermore

Comeandtastefrom mylipsWine-fielY wine you adore.Yours will I be evermore.

Come,beloved,enflame melike thewinesof tahore. Ah!

Hear my songcallingthronghthenight.

You are alone my heart's delight.Yours will I be evermore.

You're my soul'sbreath of life.Come,and sayyou'll leave me

nevermore.

Chorus (from the audience)Thesweetestof allsongs,

Forhimshe longs Oflovesupreme!Oh heavenlyheam, Marietta (to her/Nend;)IIear her songcalhng... In your celestialscheme, Justimagine, the Marquisis anRadjami (to himself, as he Helpprotect her and guard her. intimate friend of the Prince...listens to Odette sing) This Is my dream! 111e Ladies (caliously)

Delightor pain, torment or joy? Yes,in my dreamsavision I beheld, Oh...Destinyrulesonce again. Avision fair, asbayadere.Oh, poor Napoleon (tlying to minimize)Her songenrapturesmysoul, Radjami,yonr fateis sealedunknelled. Well,intimate...youknow...thewayteaviugmy heart less thanwhole. Whenthesunsinksslowlyin thewest, oneis intimate in India. Teaat theOf my sensesI'velostallcontrol! And the luteplucksstrings royalpalace...cardsat the club...Exoticflower,whcnI heardyoursong Withinmy breast,comesthe passingone~mdtheother on safari...Then I knewwhere myheart Bayadere,light~l'cloudlessair, Marietta (not listening)belonged. Drunken and delirious in dance' ...and he has promised to get meI'ascinating,exhilaratingis yoursweet Tantalizingis thatshapeso lithe, an invitationfromthePrince.

love song. AsI watchher armsand bodywrithe! TIle Ladies (variottsly)Yes, for my homeland I've longed Come,my bayadere, Please!Oh, getme one too..

Sweetbeyondcompare. Napoleon (backing qff)Kissme,I am caughtinyour trance. Yesindeed,I promised.And when IOh bayadere,youhavesetme afire! makea promise...Goodnight,ladies!Oh, bayadere,you arc all I desire. Marietta (holds bim back as she

Andlikea lotusflow'r, herselfstartstoleavewithherYouhavea magicpow'r.Mybeingreelsfi'iendo) Now come along!Asyoumyrestlesssouldevour! I'm not goingto let you leaveuntilOh bayadere,be thesun of my uight! you've introducedus.Oh bayadere,allmyseusesexcite. Napoleon (forcedbyMariettatoAud \vith your raruance remain behintl, he 'suddenly spotsMy joyless world enhance. thePrince)Ohbayadere,come and dance. Splenrud!Heis there andallalone!(lladjami exits into the loge.) This is my chance. What can he do

to me if I address him? He's only ahuman being. (goes ttp to him)Forgiveme, YourHighness,ifI takea liberty. I havethe pleasureofnothavingmetyou. Oh...buLoh... butafter all...by theway...andso...don'tyou agree? (lladjami has beenlost

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Prince Radjami (John Pickte)

Come,dearestone,singyour song.I havedreamedin a dream,WhereI heldher with ardor,

TRACK6

Marietta (enters with lady friend.~)

Haveyou heard?ThePrinceis here!Napoleon (coming in as well)Yes, so I've heard. Nice looking,

don't you think?A good suntan.

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in thought. SeeingNapoteon,heturns away)Ah, yes!Shallwc takea littlewalk.Mynamemaybefamiliarto yon.I am Napolcon...MarquisNapoleonSt.Clocbe...

Radjami

What do you want?Napoleon (aside)Not exactlyfriendly,would you say?(aloud) Yes,whatdo I want?If onlyI could say!It's verybot in bere,don't you think?Radjami (findl'him a ninny)No, I do not think' (He takes anotherappraising look at Napol6on andturns his hack on him.)

Il

TRACK7

(Loud apPlause is heard, then theaudience rashesout)Audience

Once again 'twas most ilivine!Even morc exotic!

Heailier tban vintage wineMore and more erotic!

Bnt the true sensation'sDarimonde's creation

Of the fiery bayadere.

Tongues are wagging everywhere.

Pimprinette (entering)

Come my darlings, clear thc way

La Deesse is coming!

Hyperbole is so cliche,

But isn't she benumbing!

All

Ah, can it be true? Sbe's coming here?

Oh, Pimprinette, she's coming bere?

Brava! Brava! All bail, the gloriousDarimonde! Brava! Bravissima!

(Odette enters escorted by

Pimprinette, li'ehizonde andseveral gentlemen admirers)

Odette (very annoyed)

Trebizonde, tbis is nnbeard of...Trebizonde

Bnt my dear! A prince!

Odette Darimonde (Julie Wright)

Odette

Nonsense! I amDarimonde. I am not

to be expectedto appearno matter

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who summons...no,not evenaprince!)'imprinette (soflly to Trehizonde)She'llbe much more amiablein justa moment. (HesignaL,the claque:lbey respond with: "Brava! Brava!Brava!"There,you see.Thereyouhaveit!Odette (fiattered)

No,please,your adulation stirs myhcart. You see,I'm but a servant

of my art.If you had the slightestnotion,Yes,thevery slightestnotionHow I tremble, how I shiver.Did you think it raw emotion?WhenI enter,facetheaudience,lIeart is pounding, tongueis tense,Wordsmisplacing,pulse is racing.If you had the slightestnotion..How it feelsatcenter stage:Lightsare glaring, facesstaring.Will theyclap, or will they rage?

If you had the slightestnotion.But then it comes:Themoment'shere which I await

I'm the star,theworld I dominate!All is still! No soundis heard

And you hangupon my ev'ry word.Words so profound that chills run up

and down my spine.ThenI know full well thenight is mine.Yes,now you belongto me,Heartand sonl you're mine,you'll seeWhenI danceI reign supreme.My songsenchantasin a dream.

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Yes, my art has captured you.

You're minc. (arms extended)

Stars of the stage

Shine so brilliantly bright, when

In the evening we bask in the light.

You'll buy a ticket, you'll seeWhat artistes are we...

Stars of the stage baveno life of their own.

Garlanded with praise,

We arc placed on a throne.

Yet, for a fee, you may buy

Happiness or sigh 'lS we laugh or ClY.

Just pay the price

And wilh hrauasand with cheers,You'll find a Paradise.

Come see us laugh throngh our tears.

Yet, for a fee...

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Radjmni .Yoo have conjured up the poetry of

my homeland before my very eyes.Odette

And verynice eyes.Radjami (givesherflowers)I am delighted.I am captivated.MayI?O(lette (takes, smells the roses)

Whatgorgeousroses.RadjamiAnd now,Mademoiselle,I musttellyou thatI haveseenyou often but Ineverreally w,mted to meetyou!Odette (ironically)And now,you'vechangedyour mind?Radjami

Yes,strangeisn't it?MayI tell youwhat mademe decideto come?Asa

European,it maybe difficult for youTRACK8 to undcrstand,but I camc becauseI

Odette (toli'ebizonde) had a drcam that it wassupposedtoWell, bring on your prin~c, for.I'm happcn.not going another step. It he wIshes to Odette (crossesaway)mcet me, hc will havc to come hcre. Now you'rc becomingmystical,(Radjami ajJjJeat:,at the doors) Your Highness.

Trebizonde (sees him) RadjmniYour Highness... permit mc to I don't meanto frighten you.introduce our OdetteDarimonde, I wantnothing. I simply loveyou!La SUjJerhe! Odette (amused)Radjmni . Splendid!Do go on. In suchaMademoisclle,you havegivenmc channing note,a conquestshoulda most exquisitebour. . prove quite simple. But I am not theOdette (toPimjJl'inette,aSIde) bayadereyou sawonslage-Avery oice voice!

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----

shewho must follow her princeobediently.No,pleasetake note,I amnot atalllikc that.And so,adieu!Radjami (calmly, as she goes)It is nseless!Like you, I resistedit, butin vain. It is stronger thanyour will.Odette (pauses on her way out)What is stronger thanmywill?RadjamiManythings...thingsthat you laughat' My dreams, mypremonitions..eventheseflowers!Odette (turns hack to him)

Really,Your Ilighness!All of this East-ern mysticism...magicaillowers...arcane symbolism.I expectedthat.It's quitethe ragcwith all the ladies.And now what?I expectyou willinvite me to suppcr.RadjamiExactly!And you must come. Oh, notalone...theremust bc 'mUlYguest.s.Itwillbe a joyous occasion.Thcywillpay their rcspeclsto you, mld you..you sball walk on roses!Odette

Thank you, no. I prcfer not to walkon roses.I'm sony,I won't go.RadjmniYouknowit wouldbeeasyformctoforceyou.OdetteRidiculous!How in theworld could

you force me to cometo your baIl!

(I

Odette listens with amused disdain as Radjami declares his love.

Radjmni (simply)Bymywill!OdetteYour will? Is it so strong?

RadjmniNo, Just a little biLa tiny bit strongcr

than yours, But, tbat is cnougb!Odettc

I sense a dnel between your will :md

mine, Tbat intrigues me, I am sureyou have mysterious powers, You cando \\~thwomen what you will, Verywell, show me what you can do, Useall your magic. I ask yon to.RadjmniWell, so be it. Now listen! When the

perform:mce is over, I shall do

nothing but stand here and wish

with all the power of my love and

longing for you to come. And, yon

will come! You will take my arm; you

will get into my car; and you will

come with me to my palace.OdetteThat is wonderful.

And I promise you, that you willstand here and waiL and wait...and

wait. And I shall long since have left

the theatre and I will be laughing...

as I have never laughed before!

I promise you!

14

----

RadjmniOneshouldn'tmakea promiseonecannotkcep.OdetteWe shall see.

RadjmniWhat was it your plince on stage

sang to his bayadere?

TRACK9

Radjmni, then Odette"Lotusjlowe/; I love you so, "

Swore a butte/:!ly rare....Radjmni (jJassionate/y)Youwill belicve me one dayand within my arms you'll stlY...Roses from the Gangcs,

With your fragrance, makc bel' minc,Roses whispercdThat hcr heart she must resign,You can't rcsist their magical pow'r,Youwill succumb,

Your will thcy'll devour,When they bcginbewitchingly to win you.You will be minc at that

enchanting hour,Odette, then Bod)

Roscs from thc Ganges...Odette (hurrying ojj)

No, no, I'll never yield!RadjmniRoses our hearts have sealed!

(He watches, then exits slowlyinto the theatre.)

,.' ,

DIALOGUE TRACK10

Mariett'l (enterswith husband)Why can't you gct over tl]is

compulsion to leave the theatre

before the performance ends?PhilippeWell, you're always late,so it balances out.

Marietta (hands him her purse)

Hold this for mc, please.Philippe (obediently)Yes, my pet.Marietta

And don't call me "my pet."It sounds so trite...so married.

Philippe

Of course, my pet.Marietta (exasperated)

touis-Philippe!PhilippeSorry, my pet.Marietta (starts on a new thing)

You're always thinking about food,That's why yon've become so dull...and that's whyyou're getting so fat.Philippe (not listening)

Why don't we go to l'ouquet's? Theyhave a wonderful Chester Cheese,Marietta

There, yon see! I talk about poetryand you talk about cheese. Thank

heavens there are others...MarqnisNapoleon St. Cloche, for instance-a hero,a globetrotter,a lionhunter,And how wonderfully he can dance!

""

- ----

Philippe(I could do wonderful turns too if

I weren't married!)Marietta (not listening)He's promised to gct me an invitationto a ball given by his friend Prince

Radjami,}'hilippePrince Radjami of tahore? Now,

that's interesting.Marietta

I'm dying to see his palace on the

Champs Elysees.PhilippeThat's really interesting!MariettaOf what possible intcrest could it be

to you that I be invited to Prince

Radjami's ball?

Philippe (thinking aloud)I shonld like an invitation also, If I

were to become the Consul Gcneral

in tahore and export my chocolate

there...wouldn't that bc grand?

Mariett'l (as Napoleon enters)

Dear Nappy! Did yon spcak withthe Prince?

NapoleonDid I speak with the Prince?Well, as a matter of faet, I did.Marietta

And now you may kiss my hand!

(to Philippe) Would you hold this

for me, please.

15

Philippe (takes her coat)

Yes,my pet. (turns to Napoleon)Would you do me a favor? I would somuch likc to be the Consul Gcneral

in tahore-the chocolate, you know.

That shonld be easy for you toarrange. ..Napoleon (aside)But can't you sce I'm velYbusy here?

PhilippeAllyouncedsayis "dear friend,"and so forth. It's perfectly simple..Napoleon (aside)Wcll, what do you know, be's startingin too, (aloud) I think we should beoff, (trying to change the subject)

What do you say,somc nice checseat Fouquet's?Philippe (not taking the bait)

Oh, no, let's stay until you've hada chance to introducc us to yourdear friend.

NapoleonI really think we shonld wait 'til next

week. This week he's very.. shy.MariettaNonscnse! Wc'll never have a

better opportunity!

PhilippeWe won't get a chance like this anytime soon. (looks to the theatre)

tet's just catch the third act. (goesback in)Napoleon (holding Marietta back)But Madame, who would want to

(

watch a "third act" when all of Paris

is coming to life? Every cafe, everyrestaurant is opening its electric eyes.The sky is lighted with a thousandbulbs. The clocks are striking ten,and my heart is telling me that this is

the time to think of just one thing!

DUETNapoleonWhen the sun goes down at night

At the close of day,

And the stars are shining bright,

We go out to play.Marietta

Dance and let the bottles pop,

Never stop, 'til we drop,

Napoleon

A maiden on my knee.Could life much sweeter be?Marietta

Now the clocks are striking ten.All the men will wonder when

TRACK11

Marietta (Susan Miller) danceswith Napoleon (Brian Woods)

I'll satisfy tlleir dreams.Both

So let's go to Maxim's.

When the stars shine up in theheavens

And fair Phoebus has gone to bed,

When the angels go to sleep,

And the morning glories weep,

The world's beauties before us spread.When the stars shine...

Pretty maidens, they love to eat.

When the gates to Heav'n he locks,

And she's tried on twenty frocks,Venus clines out with 01' St. Pete.

(They dance and go off)

DIALOGUE TRACK 12

Radjami (enters with Co!. Parker,

minister to fndia)Al1, Colonel, so it's

you. Why are you agitated, Colonel.

Pray tell me, what is the matter?Parl{er

Your Highness, you are llinusingyourself and your thirtieth birthday isnigh about here. Your Highness, youknow that according to the laws ofyour country you must be marriedby that day.

Radjami

Exactly.And if I llill not, I lose myright to the throne of lahore, and Ican continue amusing myself here.I can think of nnthing nicer.Parker (unamused by this)That is not what my goverrunent

16

wants. It is hoping that lahore will

at last have a young, modern,

freetbinking P11nce. And my

government knows how to empha-

size its wishes. Please read this,

Your Highness. It just arrived.

Radjami

A note from my esteemed uncle.Please, read it to me!

Parker (reading)"Mywell-beloved Prince Radjami,

adored son of my brother. We havewaited in vain many mnnths for yourretnrn. Since the day grows evercloser when you must be married,

I have effected your engagement inyour absence!"R.1dj,uni (annoyed at this)This is outrageous!

Parker (reads on)"I have selected for you six of theloveliest maidens of our illild, so

that you can elevate the worthiestone to be your wife.If they find favor in your eyes, youmay keep all of them." Well, Your

Highness, what is your answer?RadjamiNo, no, I won't do it.

Parker

But you must. We can catch theII o'clock South Express if weleave at once...

RadjamiI will not do it!

~',

FINALERadj,uniI feel and think only of her. Oh bay-

adere, I'm a slave to your charms...Parlwr

Your Highness, that is all well and

good, but my government...

Radjami (interrupting)

Oh, yon and your government!

(calls his servant) Dewa Singh,

listen! Tonight at my petit palais,

flue Honore, Champs Elysees,

Prepare a setting for romance,

A little supper llild a dance.Parker

I must protest!Radjami (still to the servant)

Go, good fellow, do your best:The opera orchestra, full dressed,

A splendid repast from Paillard.Don't ask questions, au revoir. Ah!All Paris in attendance must be

Especially Terpsichore!Pheasant under glass maybe.See it's done immediately!Parker

Highness, I pray you desist.

My countries laws insist...

Radjami (ohlivious)

Soon she will embrace me,

The goddess of all my dreams...

This will be a party to end all parties!

But I must have guests'I shall invite all of Paris.

Audience (applauding, emerge)

It was simply too divine,

TRACK13

.\

~,

The jewelry so exotic!And the overall design,

Certainly was erotic!By tomorrow to be sure

Ev'ry one will be awareOf this spectacle d'amour

Called "The Bayadere. "Marietta (mes Prince fladjami)Now's the chance for introductions.

Hurry, cher, please hurry.Napoleon (dreading this)This will be mere self-destrnction.

Out of here, I'd best scurry. Hm...Radjami (sees NapoMon) Ah,there's the young man I saw before.Napoleon (aside)He's speaking to me?RadjamiPlease come here,

my dear young sir.

Napoleon (in disbelief)You mean moil

Radjami

Yes, come here if you pleaseAnd help me put my mind at ease.NapoleonWoe is me! Now comes the blow!

Radjami (friendly)How have you been, my dearest,oldest friend?

Napoleon (amazed)

Splenclid, my good fellow."Dearest, oldest friend,"you heard him say it.Yes, we are old, old friends.

17

- -----

RadjamiTell me, are you bnsy tonight?

NapoleonNo, I'm not busy, I'm really quite free!Radjami

Then, please be my guestat mypalais, and bring yourfriends if you would like.

NapoleonDelighted! (introducing the others)Monsieurand Madllillela Tourette.

Philippe (ofjers his card)Chocolate of the most delicious kind!

MarietL'l (very thrilled)When in Paris, you'll all agree,To such a plea one must say "oui. "All

One says, "Man cher, merci, merci"

It's true, n'est-ce pas, we say"merci."

When in Paris... A tout ill'heure,mon Prince, au revoir.Radjami (all smiles)

Into your hearl' you've taken meI feel at home in gayParis.So, please allow me, at your leisure,Come dine and dllilce llild seek yourpleasure in mypetit royal palais,flue Honore, Champs Elysees.A little fun, some elegance-Champagne will flow and we will dance.

AllParis tonight shall comeTo my little party.lovely laclies and gentlemen,Come, my dear friends, come.

Let us join in revelry,

(

Pleasures hale and hearty,

Dedicate ourselves to joy,

Away with lethargy! To Champagne,

The wine that opens Heaven's gates.

Champagne, the wine with which oldBacchus fetes.

With effervescent loveliness,

Joyfulness, playfulness,

We, your suhjects, do delight,

Goddess of the night!All

Hail to Champagne!

Goddess nf our delight!MariettaI've heen told that in every wine

There are little devils,

Little devils who feast and dine

On grapes upon the vine.

NapoleonWhen the cork llies heavenward,

Then hegins our revels.

'Gainst all gloom we stand on guard,

Drinking Mumm four-starred.

All (toasting, then dancing o.ff)

To Champagne...

Parker (enters, frowning)

Your Highness, are you defying the

authority of my government?

RadjamiYes, I helieve I am.

Parker (the diplomat)Myyoung friend, you're making a

large mistake. I will give you a hrieftime to reconsider. In an hour

I shall come to your palace for

your decision.

RadjamiCome,hyallmeans.I shallbedelighted.Parker (exits)Weshallsee! Guests

Radjarni (alone) ToChampagne,thewine...Mywillcommandsthatshe\I,ll come Dewa Singh (greetingthem)but,to mywish,willshesuccumb? MesdanwsetMessieurs,I welcomeIt'sgrowinglate.Still,shallI wait. youin the uameofHisHighness.AndDidI expecttoomuchand didI now,for yourpleasure,a lovelydare toomuch? Hindudance.

OhBayadere, Darlciug Girls (in costunw)Don'tyousensemydesire? Ah!Mesdanwset vous,Messieurs,Lotusflower,I loveyouso welcome!Come,oh, comenowto me! Pleaseenjoyour prince'shumbleOdette's Voice (from the theatre) home.Wesballdance Hindudance.Mysticrosesenchantme so, LettherhythmssootheyouandYoursaloneI shallbe. entrance.Ah!Mesdames...Radjami (calls) NowwedanceHindudance,Lotusflower,I'm callingyou. Hindudancewedancein France.Come,oh, comenowtome. Marietta (aJ)plaudingthem)Odette's Voice (nearer) t.adies,yourdancewasdivine...Yes,belovedone,I am yours. thelatestcreationon the Ganges,noI amno longerfree. doubt...but...letme showyouwhatRadjami (passion£ltely) we'redoingin Paris.Mine!Sheis mine.Oh,heart rejoice... Armand (toMarietta)(Odetteappear,~in an eveningcoat.) MayI havetlnsdance?(She refusesCometo me,mylovelyflow'r. and choosesinstead afunny little(SheholdsRadjami~jlowers, doll,dressedin afrock coat)Thankapproacheshim as in a vision.) you,gentle-men,butthisdanceisOdette, then Both taken.MayI?RosesfromtheGanges...(OdettetakesRadjami'sarm, andlooking into each other's ryes,slowly, thry exit.)

18

ACT TWO(A room in the elegant Parisian

palace of Prince Radjami)

TRACK 14

AlII TRACI<15

Marietta (with jumping jack)Dancewith me.Comeon and dancewith me!

I,

'~I:,"

l

TRACK16 Odette

Radjami (appears with Odette) Just so we understand each other:

You, yon, only you! You, my delight, I only came hecause I wanted to.My heart's one happiness. Radjami (convinced othmvise)At last \vith tremhling rapture, you, Of course. But then, a woman only

WhomI'velongedfor,I capture. wantswhattheman sheloveswants.How oft, in a night sweet with dreams, Odette (flaring up)Your soui merged with the moonbeams How dare you' You don't really think..Ah, yes, I adore you, Please, I Radjarni (firmly)

implore you: say, say you love me... You took my flowers. You drank inMarietta dances with Jumping Jack Odette (as if awakening) their ft'agrance. It is destined:(choreographer Carol Hageman) Where am I? Youwill love me just as I love you.

Don't make me ask you again- Radjami Odette (~cornfully)

That lookwilldriv~me insane;- Mademoiselle,welcometomyhome. Youreallythinkso?Whatadandy!Dont youagree! Odette RadjarniSo,cometome. . Yes'I canhardlyrememberhow Yes,andyouwilltellmethisvelYday.Comedance,mon hon amI. it happened.I wasstandingbefore OdetteWe'llhavea nighton thetown, mydressingroom mirror,planning I willtellyouthatI loveyou?Today?Socomenow,don'tplaytbe clown. togohome,whenallof a sudden RadjamiWouldmyheart heatWIthsucha thud I felta strangeimpulsetoaccept Betteryet,youwillgiveit toWereyoucompoundedofflesh yourchallenge. meinwriting.

and blood? Radjami (nods, understanding) Odette (incredulous) In writing?Whatdo yousay,JumpmgJack? Ah! I willwrite thatI loveyou?Yourbigblueeyesaresaying Odette Radjami"Yes,M'um"Oui!Don'tteaseme. I wantedto seeifthe stories If! \I,sh it.You'vegottheknacktodance aboutyouandyourpowerover Odette(angrily)

thefoxtrot,sodon'tplaydumb! womenweretrue. Preposterous!TotallyandcompletelyComeon,whatdoyousay, Radjami (insulted) absurd!YouseemtohaveratherJumpingJack? Oh,please! exoticnotionsabouta European

Yoursuitisvelvet, Odette woman'sfreewill.Youdon'treallySobe mindful NowI supposedyou'llhoast believe...Thattho' yourheart is full,it is made overthefactthatI'vecome. RadjamiOfcoloredpaperand ofwool. Radjami I believein mywilland in mylove.Guests I shallonly...expressmy... OdetteOfcoloredpaperand ofwool. happiness. I see.Wellthen,ifyoucangetmetoWhatdo yousay,JumpmgJack... writetodaythatI loveyou...

19

,~

1

(

- - -

RadjamiThen...Odette

Then...!shalldeclareyou thevictor...andI shallacceptyourratherharoquenotionaboutthewillofawoman'sheart.

RadjamiEven if the notion included that a

woman who writes to me "I love

you," must belong to me forever?Odette (oftering her hand)Yes, even then.

END CD ONE

CD TWO, TRACK1

It's agreed! It is agreed, just asI said. Now let's proceed.RadjamiIt's only fair that I give warning.

There are some risk, that tllreaten

you. lu this game we play nothing issacred. Love's ardent flames will us

pursue. Therefore, I say in all

sincerity: the stakes are high. You'll

find yourself in jeopardy. You still

may go. The car waits below.

Odette (turns to the window)

I think not. For I've just arrived hereat the ball. 1'0 leave so soon would

be a bit theatrical. (a waltz is heard)

Your Highness, I should like to

amuse myself. Above all I wouldlike to dance this waltz.

RadjamiThe "Waltz!" It is curious that you

When joy is crimson red.

The music's ringing,

The violins singing.All sadness now is dead.

Europeans give names to your

dances. In Benares we dance hap-piness or sorrow, desire or joy.Odette (moving oJj)Usten, Your Highness. That iswhatI wouldliketodance. DIALOGUE TRACK2

Radjami Marietta (as the othersleave)I see.Youmeanarm inarm and Louis-Philippe,really.You'reso likeround and round? a husband!IfyouwereonlymoreOdette (amusedat him) exciting,had adventuresliketheExactly!"Armin arm". Prince...Rightaroundand leftaround, Philippe (eatingas he comes in)We'redrunkwiththe thrillofthe Now,lookhere, Marietta.Asa

dancein three quartertime. chocolatemanufacturer,I can'tveryRightaroundand leftaround, wellgo abouthuntingtigers.Theviolinssinglovesongs Marietta (wistful)Andchurchbellsbegintochime. Andyet,thereoncewasa manwhoRightaroundand leftaround, didthatfor mysake.Wesmileand welaughas we sway PhilippeAndflythroughtheroom. Ah,yes!NapoleonoftheJungle.WhenI waltzmysensesreel, Marietta (imperviousto sarcasm)Myheartgoeswild. Hepromisedhe wouldshowup inCanthisbe real?I am beguiled! hishuntingoutfit.Paradiseis in bloom. Footman (at the door)Radjami (ironically) TheMarquisSt.Cloche!Andto thinkthishappiness, MariettaThiswaltzresemblingParadise, Ah,therehe is!Tous on theBlueGangesis unknown?Napoleon(enters in a new,-(Hestaresdeeplyinto hereyes) tropical uniform)Ourkissesin Benares Madame,me voici. Howdo I look?Aresoftand sweetas here. Marietta

OurpassioninBenares Splendid!Is deepand warmas here. Philippe (still eating)Both (waltzingslowly) Congratulations!I say,youlook likeWedance,too, in Beuares GeneralGordouor isit Lawrenceof

Arabia? Now entertain my wife, will20

you, while I get rid of these? I'm sure Napoleon

it's perfectly all right. My little Marietta No, no I can't go on. I'll tell you theis not the sort to deceive her husband. rest tomorrow if you'll grant me tlut

Napoleon (as Philippe departs) little rendezvous I've been askingOf course. (to himself) No, no. It you for the past three years.cannot go on this way. I must tell Marietta

evelything. (aloud) I must confess You know I don't c:u'ry on like that!

to you that I don't... Why,I'm a respectable".

Mariett'! (teasing) Napoleou (interrupting)What? You're a respectable wife! Yes,yes, INapoleon (collapsing) know! But listen, Marietta. I think it

Well, tllat I don't...doubt that you would be so nice, when it's very coldcare for me a little. outside and the snowflakes are

Marietta dancing around, if I were to pick youWhat I admire about you so much up ,md take you somewhere where

is your courage! it's nice and warm and cozy..

Napoleon Marietta (giggling)But there are other nice things You know very well I can't goabout me, too. anywhere Witllyou where it's "nice

Marietta and warm and cozy."You hunted tigers with the Prince.

Napoleon

Well...in a way. (mts himself/ora

stmy) It was on a beautiful Sundaymorning-about four in the

afternoon. Suddenly, there's a tigerright in front of me...

Mariett'! (sees it too)Oh, no!

Napoleon

Oh yes!Just imagine, there I was,facing that tiger. It was noon and he

was terribly hungry...Marietta

Goon,goon...

DUET TRACK3

Napoleon (goes over to her)

Snow is gently fallingOn the rooftops overhead,On a winter's afternoon.Mariett'!

Five 0' clock is sounded

From the tower, the news to spread.Time for tea again so soon.Napoleon

While outside, waiting patiently,

Our little sleigh.

Coachman winks;

He'll wait for us all day.

21

Both

Then I look into your eyes,Youreyesthat mesmerize.Tell me, is this high tea...wise?NapoleonA little bar on Rue Renoir

So chic, intime, and tres sublime.A little table where, when she's able,

Our waitress \vill pour usA chilled Blanc de Blancs.

Then on a hunch, we try a punch,And next a Fizz, both hers and his.

From colored glasses

We drink to tipsiness.

From loving eyes we drink happiness.MariettaAll around en sejJaree,

Young couples like ourselves

Meet to have a rendezvous.

NapoleonAnd the God of Love is laughing,Yes,Amor himself,

He remembers wooing too.Marietta

Then, from the piano playerComes a new love song,

With a tantalizing melody.Both

Ah! Teasing our love along,

Telling us we're not wrong,

Straight to our heart it comes

headlong. A little bar...

TRACK4

Radjami (entering quickly)Verywell, Colonel. I am supposed to

(

marry.Ourcustomsdemandit, myunele demands it...

Parker (is with him)...and mygovernment demands it!

RadjamiFine! I shall do yon all a favor ~U1d

marry this velY day.Parker

Surely yon are joking, Yonr Highness?

RadjamiYon misnnderstand me, Colonel.Yon'd best be seated. I intend to

marry a Enropean woman: OdetteDarimonde.

Parker (completely flabbergasted)

Odette Darimonde! Yonr Highness,surely yon jest. I had no idea. OdetteDarimonde is not an ordinary person.She is a gentlewoman and docs notdeserve to be treated in snell...

RadjamiEnongh, Colonel! And now please

go and ask the gentlewoman tocome here.Parker

If the wedding is to take place here

in Paris, according to the law youmust have...witnesses who know

yon from India.RadjamiI had forgotteu that.

ParkerI would be one!

RadjamiMerci!(catcbessightof Napoleon

wbo bas just entered) I think Ican take care of the second witness.

Now please hnrry, my friend.Parker (departini)The Prime Minister will be overjoyed.

Radjami (calls to Napolion)My dear young friend, I need to

speak to you on an nrgent matter.Since you have been to India, myfriend, I need to ask you to confirmthat yon know me from there.

Napoleon (completely pe1plexed)Yonwonld like me to say that I knewyou in India? (aside) He must bea lnind reader.

RadjamiWe met, let us say, in Hindustan!

Napoleon (following aloni)

Yes, that's it, in Hindustan!

RadjamiWe shnt tigers together there.

NapoleonTigers...we shot tigers. (aside)

Marietta ought to be here!RadjamiWe hnnted elephants...

NapoleonAnd what elephants they were!Radjami (changing the subject)

Yon see, I need you as a witnessfor a small formality.

NapoleonBut of course, old friend. Don'tmention it.

22

Marietta (entering as Radjami

departs) Where have yon been?They're dancing the second fox trot.Napoleon (very smui)Oh, I've been visiting with myoidfriend, the Prince. So now, Marietta,

an end to all your flirting. Whenwill you cease to be his and beginto be mine?

Marietta (impressed)Soon, very soon.. .Assoon as my

husband agrees.NapoleonI beg your pardon?Marietta

You know I'm a respectable wifewho wouldn't deceive her hnshand.

(calling 0.fJ) Louis-Philippe?Napoleon (worried)What are you going to do?Marietta

You'll see!

Philippe (enters, mouth full)Well, my pet, did you dance a lot?MariettaDear Louis-Philippe. It can't have

escaped you that...recently our soulshave no longer heen in harmony. Idon't understand yon, and you havenever understood me.

PhilippeWhy that's true, my pet.Marietta (indicating Napolion)

This charming young man hasachieved what you never could do.

He has given me the feelings that my Yon must admit she's quite a dish.heart has always yearned for. Napoleon (to Marietta)

He is a hero, a globetrotter... Is he serious, do you think?In short, he is asking for the hand Is this really what you wish?of your wife. Philippe

Napoleon (stunned) Of course, I mean jnst what I say.I'm doing what? She's truly recherchee.

Marietta (cl'harply,to Napolion) Amodel of true modesty,Youare asking, aren't you? A precious gem, you'll see.Philippe Andwhen she kisses yon,I am touched,..truly touched./was You'll hear her whisper in her ear,

Louis-Philippe the First...nowyou So tenderly, so sweet,"ill be Napoleon the Second! '1\vill sweep you offyour feet:(moved) Make my wife happy! MariettaMarietta (thl'Owing her arms Sweetheart, I'd likearound his neck) This is so noble, To have a sable from Worth,

so grand,..1 must giveyou a kiss, Now don't say no,(to Napoleon) Will yon hold this You know it's only my fourth,for me, please? (hands him glasses) Also I need a cute,Napoleon Petite stole of mink.Yes, my pet. Then too, a blue fox, I think.

Philippe Be a dear, daddy dear,Now that I'm a bachelor again I'll try 'Sbeen a year since my lastto get my slender waist back. To cut Wish for a new Mercedes-Benz,

an elegant figure.. ,a mooocle. (takes Make it white!Napoleon :1'monocle) You see, like Also my portrait by a pre-Raphaelite,

this! (He strikes a comically elegant Napoleon (sarcastically)pose.) Oh, I almost forgot. Here is the That's all, no other trifle?

jeweler's last bill. It hasn't been paid How 'bout that tower by Eiffel?yet. That's your department now' Marietta (tbinks he means it)

Napoleon (takes the bill) Oh yes, some diamonds, you dear,Yes, my pet. Napoleon

Awell-known saying has itTRACK5 That a tango needs just two

Pas de trois are deemed taboo:Philippe'Jakeher, she'syours, 23

It's a dance we must not do.

PhilippeThat's why I'm begging off, old chap.NapoleonAnd I'm filling in the gap,

PhilippeThis paragon of modesty,

This precious gem, you'll see,

While kissing you on your left car,

These loving words you'll hear,

Philippe, Napoleon

So tendcr and so sweet, they'll swecp

yon (me) off your (my) fect:MariettaSweetheart.. .

(they all dance, then they go off)

TRACK(,(Ra{ijami enters in a magnificent

white silk costume, jiJllowed byOdette)Odette

You wished to see me, Your Highness?

Radjami ,

Madame,I askedyou to come.Odette (looking around)The room is quite beautifuLa

proper setting for the great sednctionscene you're about to play. You havetaste, Your Highness,

Radjami\Vhy do your lips speak with a

scorn that is unknown to your heart?

You did not want to comc here just

now".butyouhadto!

Odette (nervousMReally,YourHighness.I'd liketo scethat. (.%e goes to the door, and atthe threshold suddenly falters.) Odette (I"lillin a daze)Thisfragrance...thoseflowers... WcoftenlovetllOSC(turning, seems to be in some kind 'tb whomwearc cruel,of trance) Your Highncss,stop...don't'Ye'reoftencruellookat me thatway! to thoscwhomwelove.Radjami (intenseM Radj:uniWhydidyoucomehcre tonight? Ah!sayit:Youloveme.Odette (as itin a dream) OdetteBecauseI had to,becausctbere I loveyou.wasan irresistableforcedrivingme R~dj:uni (ecstatic)heretoyou. WIthallyourheart?Radj:uni OdetteTbenyoudo care for mcjust a little? Witballmybcart!

Radj:uni (~oesto his desk)Andnow,dear,you'llwritefor me

(

...

Odette confronts Prince Radjami

Odette

You arc quite wrong. I only camebecause I felt likc coming, and if youthink I can't Icave, I'll convincc youof thc opposite right now. It was

lovcly being with you. Arneu.Radj:uni (as she leave,l)You really mean to go?OdetteOfcourse.Radj:uni(looks deep into her eyes) By all

means, tben. Go...ifyou C'ill.

But you \\ill find tbat you will stop

at tbe threshold of this room as if

rooted to the spot, and you won't bc

able to take another step without my

wanting you to.

24

Odette (as music begins soflly)Since the first moment I first saw you!RadjamiThrcc wccks ago in the Bois?Odette

Fourweel(sagoat the opera.Radj:uniSo soon as that? Yct you always

looked the othcr way whcn I was dc-

vouring you Witll my glances? Why?Odette

Just to make you angry...to make you rcallyangry.Radj:uniSo, there we have it. That's love in

Europe: she loves me. but she wants

to make me anwy. And why wereyou so cold and cruel to me?

TRACK7

these words, thcsc tcnder wordsso oft unsaid.Odette

"Thcse tcndcr words so oft unsaid."

Radj:uniYes,writc for me:

"You,you, only you! You, my delight,

my heart's onc happincss."Odette (vits, writes)Yes, my beloved I'll write it...Radj:uni

And you longed for mc, only me,In swcet dreams night after night?

Youwant mc to hold you.Odette

I want you to hold me.

Radj:uniNowwrite: "I love you so."Odette

I love you so.

Radj:uniAh, my belovcd.My dearest, sweetcst flower.Odette Darimonde, the grcat and

celebratcd artist. But you willcast off this guise, as you will castoff this cloak, and you will no longer

be the great Darimonde but LeiloRahi, the Bayadcre.Odette (still in a trance)The Bayaderc'Radj:uni (overwhelmed)

Void is the moon's bright face,Compared with your sweet grace.

Oh bayadere, comc to my embrace!

Come,come to IllYwOllderlandWhere wc will drcam

dreamsprcclolls.Comc,comc to thc ocean'sstralld.Letsouthcrn willds refrcsh liS.

Comcwhcre (bcslcnder royal palmsStandand myrtlc treesaboulld.Comewitb me to my lIative lalld.Thisis my wish prol'olilid.Odette

Your dark cycspllssessme,Spellbound,I obey.YOllrwants,Your longingsnow obsessme.I amyours, heart and sOIlI,Night and day.You now hold mecaptive,Love'smy masternow.Your eyeseommand.For you alone,"live:" solemnwordsWhich I will not disavow.

Radj:uniSee,seebow yoIII' bodygleams,Shimmering,as alabaster.Hear radiant,cclestialthemes

Making our heartsbeatl;tstcr.Odette

Yes,yesbelovcd,YOllrslaveam I,HeldcaptivebyYOUI'glancc,Ah!foryouI'd gladly dic,Radj:uniDaoce, Leilo Rahi, dancc!Both

Your dark eycs,.. (vhe dances,/orhim. They sing again)

LJ25U

TRACKB

(The whole comjJany gathersaround them)

Parker (stepsfoneard)Ycs,indccd, ladics and gcntlcmcn,it is just as I toldyou.Todayyouwillall be witncsscsto His Highncss'wedding!Guests (amazed at this)

PriuceRadjamiwcds today??Who'sthc favorcd lady?This is quite a thrill, I'd say.Rajahtakcs a Rance.How exciting forParis,Who'sthe lucky lady?who is thc bridc, who is thc bride?Tcll us now,who is shc?Crashingcymbals:lIld sounding flutesGrcetthc lovclybrideWithwhat modcstyshcblushes,Nervouslyshy-cyed.Thousaodbuds todaywill !lowcrJoining in her happiness.How enchaotingis this hour:Bride greets groomWwith swectcaress.

Radj:uni (steppingfO1ward)Rcdrosescarpctthe bridal way,Aprinceliesatyour fect.Thc godshavcblcsscdourwcdding day.Odcttc (enters,veiled)Onr happinessis completc.Dewa SinghThcvcil,lightasanangel'sbreath,shcoowbcginsto lower.

(

Guests (as Odetterevealsher/ace) Radjami (devastated)Theveil,lightas...It'sOdette,Odette Odette!Darimonde! OdetteDewa Singh I wasnevercaptive,neverinyourNowtellus,pray,whitelotus thrall!Youclaimedyourvictorybud,doyoulovehim, muchtooearly.Youweremistaken.thespouseofyourchoice? It W'L~a game,that'sall!Odette, Radjami, All RadjmniRosesfromtheGanges... Odette!Dewa Singh GuestsNowpledgeyourlove. What'sgoingonhere?It wasplacehandin hand. a game,that'sall?I'll bindyouthus Odettewiththislover'sband. Itwasa challengegivenme byHis(Heties theirhands with a Highness,a challengeI accepted.silk ribbon) GuestsGuests (amazet/,to eachother) Hetried tomasterher, compelIt's clear,she'stotallyenchanted, her?Whatshame!bewitched,entirelyin his spell. Odette (toRadjami)Severally I toldyou,I'm sureyouwillAndnow,whitelotusbud, remember,ifyoucouldgetfrommegivehimyourlips,yourlips so red. inwritingthreelittlewords,"I loveOdette (abntptly breaking the mood) you," that I'd be yours forever.

No, tbank you velYmuch! That's quite Radjmnienough. Our little play shall not con- What of this note? Did you not write

tinue. The role does not appeal to me. that you loved me' With all yourRadjami (very alarmed) heart, that you loved me?Odette! Odette

Odette (mocking him) Oh yes, you mean this little billet"Your dark eyespossessedme doux.Thisone, dictatedcarefullySpellbound, I obeyed. to me by you. If your HighnessYour wants, your longings, only knew...they obsessed me..." Radjami (looking at the note)

'Twas quite absurd, Prince! Did you not write that you lovedA 1'01£I've often played! me? With aUyour heart!

26

--

Odette

If your Highness only knewexactly what I wrote,

when you believed me totallybewitcbed. If your Higbness onlyknew! Please, read it.Radjami (ojJening the lEtter, reads)

"My dear Prince: I told you at ourfirst meeting-I'm sure you "illrecall-oue doesn't court a Parisian

woman as one does in your country."Odette (takes it and reads on)"You cannot win Odette Darimonde

that way.Youmust be patient. Youwanted to play the victor, the master...uow, you feel defeat at the hands ofa woman. How hard this nlUst be for

you to comprehend. But take beart.There is ancient proverb which says'This, too, shall pass,' Kindest

regards. Your devoted Odette!"RadjamiYour tenderness, your ardor:it was just a game?Odette (vicious)

Yes, a game, but you're the oneto blame.

RadjamiYou have made a fool of me!

Odette

'1\vas a rok, my dear friend,

don't you see?

RadjamiBravissima. You played it all quite

splendidly.

Odette

Roles like this one suit me famously.

RadjamiEvery ardent glance a ploy.

My love W'l~ to you a toy.

i'alseyourpromisesoflove, ACT THREEDevoidoftruthyourfaithlessheart. OPENING TRACK9

Quitea demonstrationofyourart! (Chate/et'llJeatreLob!~yagain.Odette MarwttaandNajJoldollenter.SbeYou're quite wrong. Anyreal woman vmy e!egallt ami smart as always,couldhaveplayedthe part at leastas be hasjJut Oilweight.He is ladellwell.Now,iftherearenofurther withMarietta:,'greatn1!rffJobjections,I'll be on myway. MariettaOdette, Radjmni, All Comealong,dear.Starsofthestage... Haveyougotevelythillg?Radjami (to himse!f) Napolcontying,yourquiveringheart, Yes,~l1Ypet.False,yourhappiness, MarwttaAndyoursorrow,sham. Doyouhavemyfur?Odette, All Nal)olconJust paytheprice... Yes,mypet.(OdetteexitstriumjJhant.Lookillg Mariettaafter her,Radjami is suddenlyonce Andmymull'!more corifid£ntof his victory.) NapolconRadjami Yes,mypet.Andyet,it'strueyouwillloveme, Mariettafor Fatedecreesit so. (shouts wildly) HaveyouPuffi1Champagne!Bringchampagne! Napolcon (alarmed)ToChampagne,thewine Oh,for heaven'ssake,whereisThatopensHeaven'sgates. Pulfi?Ahyes,here'sYOlII'Pufll...andChampagne,thewine here isyouI'mufll!(/')'omthe muffWIthwhichold Bacchusfetes. hejJull~a very'small,!afJdog)Witheffervescentloveliness MariettaJoyfulness,playfulness,' MOllfJeWchou!IsmylittleWe,yoursubjects,do delight, PulfihunglY'l

Goddess of the night!All

Yes, with elfervescent loveliness..

112711

Napolcon (to himselj)It's always Puffi. She never asks me.Marietta

Is Pulfi ready for his din-din?

NapolconWhat about my din-din?Marietta

Oh, listen, dear. They're playing

our song. Isn't that sweet?Napolcon (doesn't care)

Yes,cbarnting. Georges, the menu'Marietta (remembering)From colored glasses we drink..(looking around) Nothing haschanged. It's just the way it used to

be. Everything is still here!Napolcon (looksat the menu)There is Ilothing here 'my more;they've crossed everything off!

Marietta (her jJurse)Would you hold this for me, please?Napolcon (distractedly)Yes,my pet.Marietta

And now you're calling me your

pet...For your sake I got a divorcefrom Louis-Philippe.But now I know evelything! Younever were in India.

NapolconNo, my pet!Marietta

You were just showing off!

NapoleonYes, my pet.

)

Marietta

Did you everseeanytigers?NapoleonNo,my pet.Marietta

And don't callmeyour pet!NapoleonYes,mypet.Marietta

Oh, it's enoughto drive one mad!(Lollis-Philippe entel:' with a verychicladyoneacharm. He iscompletely changed:elegant,dashing, slendel~Philippe (patting hottoms)DearestOllie, chereJolly,you mustexcusemefor a moment.Gointo

the ballroom. Nowyou just toddle onand I'll be with you in a moment.Marietta (amazed)Canit be?Dare I trustmy eyes?You...

Napoleon (Brian Woods)

PhilippeMarietta...mydear...mylost half!Marietta

And now,MonsienrLaTonrette,you

Marietta and the "new" Louis-Philippe (Buck Hujabre) shimmy.

are now consul general? DUET TRACK 10

Philippe PhilippeYes,in Lahore.Myfriend Prince If you want to be tres chicRadjmni hadme appointed. And in fashion,Marietta Showthe ladiesthenewstepsYou'regoingto India? With a passion.Philippe Youmust do the tangoNextweek,right into theheart of it. Endingwith somedips.Marietta Thenyoushimmy,shimmyYou're real6'goingto India?(v'al'cas-Shakingbothyourhips.tically,to Napoteon)Not just to Lyon? MariettaNapoleon (backing Ollt) Be he short onlook~ or fair

Oh,Pnffijustcoughedagain. asAdonis,Well,we must be off. If he knowswhere his hip andMarietta (,iays behind) Shoulder bone is,Well,I'm quite besidemyself. Whethersmallor tall,whenataball,Philippe A lady wants a gny

Adashinggarqonhasto move\11th Whowillaskher to this querya reply:the times... Philippe

Prettylady,willyou dancethe28

shimmy?Shimmy,shimmyis the latest later,I,AchillePimprinette,\lillmmlia,justimportedfromRhodesia! showyou the end of ActIII of theMarietta operetta "The Bayadere, " with

Shimmyis thecauseof much elation. OdetteDarimonde.Buther parmerShimmyis thecrazeofall thenation. willnot be HenriDuvalbutHisShimmy,shimmythat'stheseason's Highness,Radjami,PrinceofLahore.

newestcreation! Annand (amazed)Philippe Ifyoucanbringthatabout,Savages were known to just adore it, Pimprinette, our club will payNow the upper class does not you 25,000 francs in cash.

ignore it, (Annand and his cronies leave)

Used to be considered shocking, Odette (waving as she enters)Nowit'sde rigllelll' Thmll,you, Thankyou so much!l'avoritedanceof thewarlike Watusi, Oh,Pimpriuette,whatwould I doNowthechoiceofev'ryonewho'schoosy,without my littlebitofart?AlltllOseBodl hearl, beatingfor me. ThecrowdsShimmy,shimmyis thegreatestlev'ler. waitiug at thestagedoor, theyIt's thedancethat all prefer! almostcrushedme.(Affel' the)' (lance, they rlln ojj) l'imprinette

Was...he...atthe theatre, too?Odette (angrily)

Didn'tI forbid you to speakofhim?PimprinetteBereasonable,Odette.Jnstwhat ishe doing?Nothing'Everynight forthe lasthundred nighb he hassat inhis box. That'squitean accomplish-ment.Mterthe theatrehe comeshere,andpaysthe orchestratoplaymelodies from "The Bayadere, "and sits and dreams.Ooh...Odette

I can't stand it any longer. Oh,

Pimprinette, I must confess: \l1thout

my knowing it, he has gained some

DIALOGUE TRACK11

Pimprinette (enters wilh gents)Ah, gentlemen,good evening!Armand

Well, how goes it? Is she coming orisn'tshe?PimprinetteEvelYthing's in order, my dear

Count. She's coming.Gentlemen

Bravo, Pimprinette!Pi111prinette

I've alwaysprevailedwith her. Shedoes exactlywhat I ask.It is now7:30. Thisveryday,by midnight, no

29

mysterious hold overme.l'i111prinette (feigning surprise)Oh, dear,dear,dear.Canit be true?Odette

Notan hour goesby thatI don't thinkof him. OhNetty,whatdoesit mean?Is it his eyes that burn into my brain...his flowers?

Pi111prinette (tenderly)

Oh, my dear superb one. His ways

are much deeperthan that. You see,he is in love witb you.Odette

Bequiet! I hatehim'l'imprinette (with gentle hllmO1~Of courseyoudo. I'm convincedofit.AndthatiswhyI'm goingto free youof him. I shall speakto him myself.OdetteYou?

Pimprinette

You don't think I'd dare? Well, mydear,yon will see. He will leave Paris.Pimprinettesaysit, Pimprinetteguaranteesit!Odette

Pimprinette, if yon can hring that

about...ifyou can free me from that

stare tllat haunt.~me...you \\111get

50,000francs from me in cash.But he must go. (v'begoes)Pi111prinetteShecan't standhim. (chllckling)Fine! (he exits also)

Radjami (enters, to the waiter)Champagne!

)/

!

Georges

Atonce, Your Highness!RadjamiMusic!

GeorgesAt once, Your Higlmess!

Radjarni (l'itS, as music begins)

LollIS flower, I love you so"'

(reading a letter) "If Your Highness

does not arrive here in Bordeaux by

tomorrow morning, His Majesty's

ship will sail without you,"

totus flower, I'm calling you.."

(readingfurtber) "In this event,

my government will declare youdevoid of all claims to the throne.

Jonathan Parker, Colonel in His

Majesty's Service."My homeland calls

me. Tomorrow". so soon. No, I can't!

Oh bayadere, you have set me afire!"

DIALOGUE TRACK12

Pimprinette (enters)Oh, poor Prince. He looks so sad. Ifonly Odette could see him like this.

I'll have a word with him right away.(going over to tbe Prince) Excuseme, Your Highness!"R:uljami C~rufJly)

Who are you? What do you want?PimprinetteYour Highness, forgive me for beingbold".but I love Odette Darimonde as

if she were my daughter".and you".oh, the devil, I'm very fond of you,

AIRNapoleonStanding hand in hand,

Oh, it seemed so very grand.

She was gowned by Worth,I wore tails as we went forth

'Ib the Registrar. Ah!

Descending was my lucky star!It was fun. Mendelssohn!

Dressed up nice and ducking rice.

Couldn't tell all wasn't well. Oh lIell!

Oh, if! hadn't said "I do."

Should have said "no,"

Or p'rhaps "pooh-pooh!" to

"Do you take her for your \\ryfe, and

Promise to love her your entire life?"

I don't know how it came about,

Suddenly from my throat a shout:

"I do! I take her for good or ill."

Since then my life has goue downhill.

too. Believe me, I know what you'researching for, what you're fighting for:

a woman's heart. (confidentially)Now listen, in a quarter of an hour,how would you like to be thecharacter, the hero of a play I'm

putting on? Oh, do sayyes, YourHighness. Trust me. I know all thetricks of the Paris theater. Your name

shall be at the top of the Dramatis

Personae: "Radjami, Prince ofLahore." Leave the rest to me!

Radjami (amILl'ell, departing)You are an odd one, Monsieur

Pimprinette. But, you make melaugh! Verywell.Pimprinette (goingalso) I.Iecan'tresist her either, It will be fine.

NallOleon (enters in a burry)Oh, thanl, heavens!

They're still open. I'm starvingto death.Puffihashadhis din-(Hn, Justthe otherdaymId after one more cough, I managed My beloved wife did say

to get him to bed. l'or tbis I got "Dearest sugar pie,married! Certaiuly,my wife is There's a gown that I must buy

delightful enough. She has only one And a necklace too." Ah, please,

failing, shared by many wives: she Tell me what was I to do?doesn't like her husband. It's always Diamond, furs, all are hers.tiw otber man. I used to be the other There in stack" on all tbe racks,

man and she adored me. Now that I'll be broke and that is not a joke.

I'm her busband, she adores the Oh, if I'd only not said "yes"other man. When asked to buv that first

(be sits down, very discouraged, new dress, sho~ld havebead in bands) Been stern and replied such:

"That dress, my dear, costs mucb,

TRACK 13

30

PimprinetteGentiemen, come! (cvCl)!onebut Napoleon exits)Marietta (entering amorously withLouis-Pbilippe) Come in here.

This is when it's nicest: evelyone ontile dance floor and just uS".allalone in tins qniet littie snuggelYPhilippeIdealfora nice,quietchat.

DIALOGUE TRACI<14 Marietta

Napoleon You'rereallylookingVel)!well.QnitePimprineUe!(wbo basjust retumed) a changefor the hetter,Monsieur.You'rea manofthe theatre.Howdoes Philippea husbandgoaboutcatchinghiswife Andyou,Madame,havebecomeevellin a compromisingsituation? moreravishing,ifthatispossible.Pimprinette (tbinks a second) (he impulsivelykissesbel'hand)Oh,mydear,it'squitesimple, MariettaMarquis... A device often used on the Darling, haven't you noticed. I've

stage. You most pose as another... wmlted to be alooe ,vitil you all TRACK16

dis!,'Uiseyourself...as to catcb them evening? I cleverly sent Napole~n Pimprinette (entering witb Odette)onaware.Now,let'ssee:Ah!(seeing homewithPuffi.1doIt often.Its ThePrincehas lefttown. He'sgone.tbe hartendm) I'vegotit. (calls oneofmytncks' Odettebim) Johnny,comehere,willyou? Napoleon (tbrowingoffbis cap) Buthow...Napoleon Ah,ha!Perfidiousone.Caugbtwilb- PimprinetteI thinkI understand. out.~Poffito sendmehomeWltil. Pimprinettesaysit;PimprinetteJohnny Pluhppe (amazed) guaranteesit. HeaskedmetogiveyouWhat'llitbe,gents? Mou;leurSt.Cloche? theseroses...andthisletter(aside)Napoleon (tojobnny) Justlend Manetta (deltgbted) It's oneof the oldestploysin themeyour jacket. (be takes offbis Napole?n!Whatdo~s~s~Ieml? theatre.WheneveranythinggoesJacket.) Andnowlendmeyourcap. Napoleon rto Louts-Jhtlippe) wrong,youjustwritea leUer.And now,you maybavethenightoff QlIlet!Heres thelatestbillfrom the Sm'douusedit all tiletime...

andI'll tendthe bar. jeweler...bereis puffi'sc.ollar.Giveme Odette (reading)Johnny (bappyto oblige) mymonocleback and,10exchange, "My wlnte lotusbud"...whatan odd

Yes sir. Good evening, gents. 31 form of address.

Yes,much too much!"I'm sure thatGodin heavenaboveMust be a.,hamedof

What'shappeoedto Love."Whatdoesit cost,

How much haveyou got?"That'sLovetoday.It's a sad, sad lot.

(sits alone and confilsed)

youcan takeyour wife.Marietta (intrigued)

Areyou beinggenerousand givingupallclaimsto me?Napoleon (sarcastically)Yes,it breab my heart...butit mustbe tilisway!Marietta

This is simply charming...

TRIO (Reprise)

NapoleonAh, takeher, she is yours. Yoomnstadmit she's quite a dish.

Philippe (to Marietta)Is he serious, do you think...(Tbe tbree oftbCl1l sing again,tben exit aileI' anotber dance.)

TRACK15

\I

/

J'imprinetteIt's the equivalent nf nur "Right

Honorable."Odette

"Myheart trembles in deepestmelancholy."Pimprinette (explaining)That is to say..."1deeply regret..."Odette"that your soul cannot find its wayto mine..."

Pimprinette"...that you cannot accept my offer."Odette

"I am leaving this cold land of

yours...Even as my white lotus budreads these words, the South Expressis taking me to the sea."Pimprinette (rubbing it in)

"Yours, most respectfully!"Odette (overcomebyfeeling)Pimprinette, he's gone.PimprinetteCompletely. Vanished without a trace.OdetteIt can't be! Oh, I don't believe it.Oh,

why do you all torment me so? You,

the Prince...you...you who posed as

my friend. And now he's gone. Theone I love above all else. Gone.

Pimprinette (te(LI'ing bel' a little)

Odette, what are you saying?

OdetteI've only now realized it. I love him!

Pimprinette (quietly)

We've known all the while, my dear.

Odette (music star!.,)And am I to lose him now to a

country from which he'll neverreturn? Oh, Netty,he'll marry...

PimprinetteSixwomenat thesametime!OdetteWillyou be quiet!

I'imprinette (unrelenting)His unclehas 134wives!Odette (in pain) Then it's ,ill over.

Pimprinette (toucbed)Not quite...but soon...in just amoment. (clapping, inviting tbe

tbeater company to come in.) Ipromised the company I would showthem the conclusion of Act III of

"Tbe Bayadere"...with Odette

Darimonde... and... Prince Radjamiin the leadiog roles!Odette (amazed)Pimprinette!PimprinetteI'm getting150,000francsfor it.I'vegota familyto feed.OdetteBut this letter?

PimprinetteMerely a prop, a la Sardou!Odette (joyfully)

Then he basn't gone?

PimprinetteHold on!Just a moment. (in aloudvoice) No,he hasn't left yet. (again,loudm) No,he hasn'tleftyet. (goes

32

to tbe wings) Your Highness,please,that is your cue..."He hasn't left yet."

And now yon enter! (Racijami enters.Odette 17ms to bim and tbrows bel'tlIms around bis neck.He kisses bel'passionately. All approve)

The tovers are united

PimprinetteThe role suits him rather well. Voita,Mesdames et Messieurs! This is the

conclnsion of Act Three of ... "Tbe

Bayadere."Racljami (passionately)Oh,Bayadere,come...bemine!

Curtain

END CD TWO

Freedlander Theatre

THE COLLEGE OF WOOSTER

Liberalarts collegesare, in the words of president R. Stanton Hales, "nationaltreasures which have provided the idealsfor American undergraduate education."Of these small and independent treasures, Wooster is one of the brightest. A recentstudy measured the leading 50 collegein three critical areas-educating scientists,educating leadersin international affairs, and educating business executives.Wooster is one of only 21 collegesto earn a place in all three groups. It is also aschool which is dedicated to the performing arts with strong programs in theatreand music.SinceestablishingTheOhioLightOperain 1979,its goalshavebeento provide young musicians with an opportunity to perform in a professionalsetting and to entertain audiences with operettaswhich charmed the publics ofan earlier era.

33

,.

J. Lynn Thompson, CONDUCTOR

VIOLINErin Gilliland, Gmcerlmaster

Olga Shpitko, ConcertmasterD'Ette BollingerMary K. Matthews HaasAdda Kridler

Ryan P. LoeckelBlagomira PaskalevaJoseph PlasterNikola TakovVIOLA

Brenda Robak

Brigid ShoganKirsten GreenlawCELLO

Anthony FanningCraig Leffer

DOUBLEBASS

Michael Kuennen

FLUTE

Kelly JepsonJill Vander Scheer

OBOE

Anne Austin

Heidi Tegeder

CLARINETMatthew Kanowith

John Waytena

BASSOONAlden Banta

Scott Hanratty

HORNJeff Leenhou tsElizabeth Pfaffle

TRUMPET

Stephen OrejudosJohn Schuesselin

TROMBONE

Megumi KandaSteven D. Stepson

PERCUSSION

Ian Smith

HARPJulia Martin

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OHIO LIGHT OPERAPRODUCTION STAFFJames StuartArtistic Director

J. Lynn ThompsonMusicDireclor

Steven DaigleGel/eral Director

Laura McGraw NeillCompanyMal/ager/Prodl/cerJennifer GrosethLighting DesignerDavid SmartSet Desigl/er

Carol HagemanChoreographer

Matt DilyardProdl/ctiol/ Photography

James StuartArtisticDirector

Acknowledgements:R. Stanton Hales, PresidentoftheCollegeofWooster

ADVISORYCOMMITTEE:Bill &MarilynBlanchard, Harold & Lois Freedlander,John & Marie Johnston, Frank & Jean Knorr,Barbara Robinson, John Schambach,Dave & Carol Sherde, Ernie & Mary LouStein, Diane Hales.

Mr. Ostendorfwishesto thankDianeOr20,theOLOstaff-Jim, Lynn andLaura inparticular-YvonneKalman,JohnScofieldofJosefWeinberger,DonaldRosenberg,and,asever,SteveandtheKramans.

laura McGraw Neill Jeremy DobbinsCompany ManagerlProducer Recordmg Engineer

Newport Classic's Operetta CD Seriesalso includes other Ohio Light Opera's prodl/cliol/s:VictorHerbertEILEEN(NPD85615)Andre Messager vERONIQUE (NPD85635)Oscar Straus CHOCOLATE SOLDIER (NPD85650)

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