Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages
Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages
Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages
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<strong>Opera</strong> Comique in Four Acts By Friedrich von Flotow<br />
Libretto By St Georges<br />
First Produced Vienna, November, 1847<br />
Chief Characters Lady Henrietta (Martha), Nancy, Lionel, Plunket, Sir Tristan<br />
THE scene is laid in Richmond, in the time of Queen Anne, whose charming young maid-ofhonour,<br />
Lady Henrietta, is so tired of Court life, and so heartily sick of her many insipid admirers,<br />
that she has retired to the country to refresh herself. Growing dull, she decides to attend the statute<br />
fair at Richmond; and, ripe for a good frolic, she attires herself and her maid, Nancy, in rustic<br />
garments, and sets off to the fair, attended by her foppish old cousin, Sir Tristan another admirer<br />
whom she terms a bore who also, much against his will, has decked himself in humble garments.<br />
Arrived at the fair, the spoilt beauty deftly manages to lose her escort, and then, thinking to enjoy<br />
a good joke, she stands amongst the lines of serving-wenches waiting to be hired, with the merry<br />
Nancy at her side. Amongst the hirers are two young farmers, Lionel and Plunket, who are looking<br />
for a couple of likely wenches to do the work of their house for them; and being at once struck by<br />
the beauty and charm of the two masqueraders, they at once proceed to hire them, Lady Henrietta<br />
giving her name as " Martha." The girls, entering delightedly into the joke, accept the earnestmoney<br />
given by the young men; but they are soon filled with dismay on discovering that, as they<br />
have taken the earnest-money, they are legally bound to their new masters for a year. Sir Tristan,<br />
who comes up at this moment, tries to pass the matter off with bluster, though not daring to reveal<br />
the identity of his cousin, for fear of the scandal reaching the Court; but the two young farmers<br />
soon thrust him on one side, and carry off their maids in triumph. In Act 2 the two girls are in the<br />
house of the young farmers, having just arrived; and in a very short time their personal attractions<br />
appeal so strongly to their new masters that a mutual interest and admiration, rapidly deepen-ing<br />
into love, is developed between Lionel and the supposed Martha and Plunket and the gay Nancy.<br />
Henrietta feels that Lionel is some one of higher station than he appears; and this is the truth the<br />
young man being an orphan who was left with Plunket's parents in early childhood, the facts of his<br />
parentage not being known. He now falls desperately in love with his new maid, and Martha, on<br />
being set to work at the spinning-wheel, further delights him by singing to him in a most delightful<br />
manner. Meanwhile Plunket has been vainly endeavouring to initiate the lively Nancy into the<br />
household duties he intends her to perform; but saucy Nancy will not soil her fingers, and leads<br />
him such a dance with her breakages and pretended tantrums, that he is glad to let the work go,<br />
and to enjoy her pretty coquetries instead. Finally, the new maids are told to go to bed, but on<br />
arriving in their chamber they succeed in making their escape through the window, with the aid of<br />
Sir Tristan, who has discovered their whereabouts, and come secretly to escort them home. The<br />
young farmers are filled with anger and dismay at the loss of their fair maids, and Lionel's grief is<br />
so great that he falls into a melancholy state. Wandering out into the forest of Richmond one day,<br />
he meets a royal hunting-party, amongst whom is the Lady Henrietta, and, recognising her at once<br />
as the object of his affection, he hurries to her side, and passionately declares his love for her. She<br />
repulses him roughly, and upon Lionel now reminding her of her contract to serve him for a year,<br />
she declares to the company that the young man is mad, and Sir Tristan supporting her declaration,<br />
the intruder is thrust into prison. Lionel has always cherished a ring which he has a hazy<br />
recollection was given him by his father, who told him that if he was ever in trouble he was to<br />
send the ring to the Queen, when it would quickly alter his fortunes for him; and when Plunket<br />
visits him, he begs his friend to take it at once to their royal mistress. Plunket, therefore, visits the