Erminie

"Erminie" is a comic opera in two acts composed by Edward Jakobowski (1858 - 1927) with a libretto by Claxson Bellamy and Harry Paulton, based loosely on Charles Selby's 1834 "Robert Macaire". It opened at the Grand Theatre, Birmingham, England on 26 October 1885 and transferred to the Comedy Theatre in London on 9 November 1885, starring Florence St. John who, being pregnant, ceded the role to a young Marie Tempest in December. On 18 February 1886, the piece moved to the Gaiety Theatre, London and then toured the British provinces [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=tjwOAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA2-PA465&lpg=RA2-PA465&dq=erminie+1885+%22comedy+theatre%22&source=web&ots=JesF4zBVs7&sig=nSxlktsQ9CeR7iaL85loWnJG0Jw#PPA465,M1 Information about UK and other productions of "Erminie"] ] and throughout the world, reaching Australia by 1889. [ [http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~melbear/1889.htm Information about an Australian 1889 production of "Erminie"] ]

The Broadway production was extraordinarily successful, opening at the Casino Theatre on 10 May 1886 and running for 571 performances. [ [http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=4911 IBDB entry for the original New York run] The number of performances is often erroneously stated to be much higher.] It starred Francis Wilson as Cadeaux and DeWolf Hopper. "Erminie" enjoyed many UK, U.S. and foreign productions and was revived on Broadway in 1893, 1899, 1903 and in 1921 with Wilson and Hopper again assuming their 1886 roles. [ [http://www.nypl.org/research/manuscripts/the/thewilson.xml Information about a number of productions of "Erminie"] ] "Erminie" is being performed as a staged concert production in July 2008 by the Lyric Theatre in Mountain View, California.Kenig, Marc and Neil Midkiff. [http://www.lyrictheatre.org/erminiearticle.htm "Discovery Is Making a To-Do About "Erminie",] LyricTheatre.org]

A minor planet, 705 Erminia, is named after the work.

Roles and original London cast

*Marquis de Pontvert - Fred Mervin
*Eugène Marcel (the Marquis' secretary) - Henry Bracy
*Vicomte Ernest de Brissac - Horace Bolini
*Captain Delaunay (a young officer) - Kate Everleigh
*Sergeant - A. D. Pierrepoint
*Dufois (the Landlord of the Lion d'Or) - George Marler
*Simon (a Waiter) J. W. Bradbury
*Henri - Stanley Betjeman
*Pierre - Lottie Leigh
*Chevalier de Brabazon (the Marquis' guest) - Percy Compton
*Ravennes (a thief) - Frank Wyatt
*Cadeau (a thief) - Harry Paulton
*Cerise Marcel (Erminie's companion) - Violet Melnotte
*Javotte (Erminie's maid) - K. Munroe
*Marie - Edith Vane
*Clementine - Delia Merton
*Princesse de Gramponeur - M. A. Victor
*Erminie de Pontvert - Florence St. John
*M. St. Brice - Nellie Gordon
*M. D'Auvigne - Kitty Graham
*M. De Nailles - Marie Huntley
*M. de Sangres - Violet Leigh
*Mme. St. Brice - Lillie Teesdale
*Mme. de Lage - Ada Maxwell
*Mme. de Brefchamp - Ethel Selwyn
*Mme. de Chateauln - Millie Gerard
*Antoinette - Madge Bruce
*Charlotte - Emilie Campbell
*Jeanette - Anita Marzan
*Mignon - Florence Dudley
*Rosalie - Carrie Solomon
*Niniche - Helen Gwynne
*Nanine -Mary Webb
*Fanchette - Sylvia Southgate

Synopsis

;Act IErminie is the daughter of the Marquis de Pontvert. She has been promised, in an arranged marriage, to Ernest, Vicomte de Brissac. He is a young nobleman and the son of an old war comrade of Erminie's father. Erminie and Ernest have never met each other. Erminie, however, is secretly in love with her father's secretary, Eugène, and Ernest is secretly in love with Cerise Marcel, who is Eugene's sister and Erminie's friend. Eugène and Cerise are orphans who were taken in to his household by Erminie's father. Eugene feels that his subservient position makes it impossible for him to ask the Marquis for Erminie's hand in marriage.

On his way to the betrothal ceremony, Ernest runs into a pair of crafty "philanthropists" (thieves), Ravennes and Cadeau, who steal his money and wardrobe and tie him to a tree. They disguise Ravennes as Ernest and Cadeau as a Baron and blunder into the Lion d'Or for the betrothal, saying that they were waylaid by thieves. Seeing the wealthy wedding guests, they scheme to make off with a lot of money. Cadeaux gets drunk, however, and his bad manners nearly spoil the scheme. Ernest eventually escapes his bonds and arrives late and in disordered attire at the Lion d'Or. Seeing Ernest, Ravennes cries "Seize the villain," claiming that Ernest is the thief who attacked them earlier in the day. Ernest is arrested and tossed in jail.

;Act IIAt the Chateau Pontvert that evening, Ravennes, still disguised as Ernest, pretends sympathy for Erminie's love for Eugene. He promises to help her to elope. At the same time, she unwittingly helps him to rob the house and the wedding guests. Eventually, however, in a farcical comedy of errors and mistaken identities, the plan fails, and the robbers are arrested. Nevertheless, their scheming inadvertently rescues Erminie from the arranged marriage, as both pairs – Eugene and Erminie, and Ernest and Cerise – are happily united.

Musical numbers

;Act I - The Village Fête in Pontvert, France.
*No. 1 - Introduction, Chorus & Ensemble - "Around in a whirl we skip, dance and twirl; let each boy and girl make merry..."
*No. 1a - Exit (Reprise) - "Around in a whirl we skip..."
*No. 2 - Chorus & Ensemble - "Vive le Marquis! vive le Marquis! Welcome, welcome to the fête..."
*No. 2a - Exit (Reprise) - "At village feast here meeting you..."
*No. 3 - Song - Erminie & Chorus - "Ah, when love is young, all the world seems gay! Tra la la la la la la la la..."
*No. 4 - Duett - Erminie & Eugène - "There is a sweet remembrance of the past, a treasur'd dream, a dream I fondly store..."
*No. 5 - Entrance of Soldiers & Chorus - "All for glory the soldier's life; from the conflict scorning e'er to flee..."
*No. 6 - Song - Marquis & Chorus - "Dull is the life of the soldier in peace, with hateful routine until war brings release..."
*No. 6a - Exit (Reprise) - "All for glory the soldier's life..."
*Nos. 7 & 7a - Entrance & Duett - Ravannes & Cadeaux - "We're a philanthropic couple, be it known..."
*No. 8 - Dream Song - Erminie - "At midnight on my pillow lying, by daily toil oppress'd..."
*No. 9 - Concerted Piece - "The blissful pleasure I profess of such a meeting overjoys me..."
*No. 10 - Finale Act I - "Away to the chateau, away from the throng, where bridegroom and bride will be plighted ere long..."

;Act II - The Ballroom in the Marquis de Pontvert's Chateau.
*No. 10a - Entr'acte
*No. 11 - Introduction, Chorus, Ensemble & Song - Marie - "Here on lord and lady waiting, court gallants and nobles all..."
*No. 11a - Exit (Reprise) - "Here on lord and lady waiting..."
*No. 12 - Song - Eugène - "Darkest the hour ere light of dawn beameth; deepest the gloom ere the storm clouds divide..."
*No. 13 - Chorus & Song - Erminie - "Joy attend our Erminie, hers be ev'ry earthly bliss..."
*No. 14 - Song - Erminie - "A lover in his mirror gaz'd, with visage wan, and glare half-craz'd, to see if thinner he had grown..."
*No. 15 - Song - Cadeaux & Whistling Chorus - "I'm not a free agent, like any of you, there's them as looks arter my fate..."
*No. 16 - Vocal Gavotte - "Join in pleasure, dance a measure, fondly treasure hours so bright..."
*No. 17 - Lullaby - Erminie & Chorus - "Dear mother, in dreams I see her, with lov'd face sweet and calm..."
*Nos. 18 & 19 - Supper Chorus & Scene Change - "Come to supper, let's repair..."
*No. 20 - Concerted Piece (unaccompanied) - "'Tis growing late, yes, 'tis growing late, and time to end the fête..."
*No. 21 - Finale Act II - "Should we gain your favours, ev'ry heart is gay..."

References

* [http://www.oldandsold.com/opera/opera-70.shtml Synopsis and other information about "Erminie"]

External links

* [http://operapronto.home.comcast.net/performances.pt2.html Information about productions of Ermine in Colorado]
* [http://www.halhkmusic.com/erminie.html Midi files and links to cast information and lyrics]
* [http://www.ibdb.com/show.asp?ID=3359 "Erminie" at the IBDB database]
* [http://www.musicweb-international.com/garlands/109.htm Information about Jakobowski]
* [http://www.lyrictheatre.org/season/show4_plot.php Listing for "Erminie", 2008]