Manoni - Vanemuine

Synopsis
Act I:
The ageing ladies’ man Guillot de Morfontaine and his wealthy friend
de Brétigny are partying in Amiens together with three frivolous actresses
Pousette, Javotte and Rosette. The villagers gather for the arrival of the postal
coach, among them is the soldier Lescaut who is waiting for his cousin Manon,
a young girl from the province, who to escort to a convent. Manon arrives but
when Lescaut leaves his relative alone for a while, Guillot notices the beautiful
maiden and makes her a suggestion to escape together. Having returned Lescaut
warns Manon not to speak to strangers. The romantically inclined young chevalier
des Grieux who is on his way to meet his father, notices Manon and falls in
love with the girl at first glance. His emotions are returned and the young desert
their present destinations and escape to Paris with the coach stolen from Guillot
to start a new life filled with love and pleasures.
Act II:
Des Grieux and Manon read a letter in their Parisian apartment where the man
asks his father for marriage consent. Suddenly, Lescaut and de Brétigny arrive.
Lescaut carries out a theatrical scene about the violation of the family honour in
order to distract the attention of des Grieux and convince of his truthful intentions.
Making use of the situation, de Brétigny warns Manon in private that
des Grieux’ father intends to have his son delivered home by force and implies
that his own position and wealth would guarantee the maiden a more secure and
brighter future. After the guests have left, Manon is unable to decide whether
to accept the offer of de Bretigny or to warn des Grieux. When her lover goes to
mail the letter, Manon says goodbye to her present life. Des Grieux returns and
performs his vision of the future happiness but suddenly the soldiers sent by his
father enter and abduct him.
Act III:
1. picture. The promenade of Cours-la-Reine in Paris where the people amuse
themselves on the account of the drunken Lescaut. De Brétigny arrives with
Manon who is surrounded by admirers. Manon overhears the conversation
between de Brétigny and count des Grieux, his ex-lover’s father. The young
des Grieux with a broken heart has joined the Saint-Sulpice seminar and intends
to become a clergyman. Manon asks the count whether his son still loves her
and then hurries to Saint-Sulpice.
2. picture. The fluency of new abbé is praised at the Saint-Sulpice seminar.
Among others there is also count des Grieux who for the last time tries to change
his son’s mind to discard the clergyman calling and to find a girl suitable for his
rank, get married and carry on the family’s name. After the father has left des
Grieux asks God for help in order to forget Manon. Then arrives Manon who
asks for his forgiveness for her infidelity. Finally the angry man becomes mild
and the young escape again.
Act IV:
Lescaut, Guillot, three actresses and gamblers are at the Hôtel de Transylvanie in
an illegal gambling salon. Des Grieux and Manon arrive. The woman convinces
her lover to test his luck in order to ameliorate their financial status that has
suffered because of Manon’s love of luxury. Des Grieux plays with Guillot and
wins overwhelmingly. Guillot accuses him of fraud and Manon for being his accomplice.
He leaves in anger and returns with the police and count des Grieux.
The count promises to stand for his son but informs that he will do nothing to
save Manon. Guillot has his revenge and the arrested couple is taken away.
Act V:
A lonely place by the road to Le Havre. Manon has been convicted of immorality
and condemned as whore. She is to be sent abroad to the new continent as
punishment. Des Grieux and Lescaut plan to release her by force. The convoy
arrives that must deliver Manon with other fallen women to the harbour. The
escort turns out to be too strong. Lescaut gives bribe to the sergeant to release
Manon for a short period of time. The girl is deadly exhausted from prison life
and abuse. The lovers are together for the last time. Manon asks for forgiveness,
remembers of their happiness together and dies in the hands of des Grieux.
Mati Kõrts, Merle Jalakas, Taavi Tampuu ja Karmen Puis