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Die Fledermaus
Synopsis
Vienna c.1874
Act One: Eisenstein's Apartment
Outside we hear Alfred, a Tenor, serenading Eisenstein's wife Roselinda. Her maid, Adele, hopes to go to a Ball that evening at Prince Orlofsky's Villa but Roselinda refuses her leave since Eisenstein has to spend five days in prison. Alfred enters and tells Roselinda that he will return when hre husband is safely out of the way. Eisenstein arrives home with his lawyer, Dr. Blint, whom he blames for his predicament. Eisenstein's annoyance is dispelled , Dr. Falke who persuades him to come to Orlofsky's Ball before going to jail. Roselinda now tells Adele that she may have the evening off. Alfred arrives but Roselinda is horrified when Frank, the Prison Governor, enters to escort his distinguished guest to jail. He takes the hapless Alfred instead, who is pretending to be Eisenstein to save Roselinda's reputation.
Act Two: Prince Orlofsky's Villa
The Prince complains of boredom and Dr. Falke tells him that he has arranged a splendid entertainment. We realise that his plan is to exact revenge on Eisenstein for pushing him into a fountain whilst returning from a Fancy Dress Ball. An air of fantasy now pervades the scene as Eisenstein appears disguised as the Marquis de Renard and is surprised to meet M'selle Olga, who looks remarkable like Adele, but she convinces him otherwise. He fails however to recognise Roselinda, heavily disguised as an Hungarian Countess, and she manages to take his chiming watch as evidence. The party ends with Eisenstein and Frank (disguised as Marquis de Renard and The Chevalier Chagrin), both by now the worse for champagne, helping each other off to prison.
Act Three: The Prison
Alfred has been having a fine drinking party with the warders and Frosch, the drunken sergent-in-charge. Adele arrives convinced that Frank can promote her on a stage career. Eisenstein now enters and is bemused to find that 'he' has been in jail all night. When Roselinda appears to warn Alfred, they are both cross-examined bu Eisenstein, disguised as Dr. Blint. He finally reveals his identity as Falke arrives and confesses the trick he has played on them all. Everything is forgiven and all declare that the real culprit is the demon champagne. The fantasy is over but one is left with the distinct feeling that no one is going to reform one jot!
Chairman's Forword
It is unbelievable that I am sitting down to write the Chairman's Forword for our annual show. The year has passed so quickly and it seems no time since we premiered The Hot Mikado. Many people who came to see it asked us how we were going to follow it! It was a difficult choice but I don't think we could have made a better one. Die Fledermaus has been aclaimed as the greatest operetta that has ever been written and been performed all over the world. It has been a joy to do particularly for me, as it was one of my first shows with Milford Haven Amateur Operatic Society. In fact many of the faces you will see tonight where there 16 years ago and the society has benefitted by members old and new who have come together for this wonderful show.
At this point I must thank our production team. Sarah Colquhoun took on the role of Director valiantly, this is her first major show with the society and we thank her taking on a show of this magnitude. Secondly a big thank you to Marian Harris our Musical Director who never fails in her devotion and loyalty to the society and lastly thanks to Linda Gregory our Choreographer who worked on our previous production of Die Fledermaus, it has been lovely to see her return.
Now finally let us take you back to the enchanting world of Vienna where the music is captivating, the ladies are beautiful, the gentleman are charming and the champagne is flowing!
Enjoy your evening!
Jane Morris
- Chairman
... and a few words from our Director
As Gabriel says "Time has flown". It certainly has, "just like a bat out of hell", since my happy involvement with Die Fledermaus began back in September. It has been tremendous fun creating this piece with such a clever and delightful Company. We have all experienced laughter and the odd tear of frustration, but then that's Show-Biz M.H.A.O.S style!
Enjoy!
