Captain de Mérimac, of the Man of War "Cormorant."
Valentine, his nephew, officer of the Rousillon Guards.
Duc des Ifs, cousin of the Countess.
Coquelicot, his foster brother.
Marvejol, Seneschal to the Countess.
Olivette, daughter of the Seneschal.
Bathilde, Countess of Rousillon.
Veloutine, the Seneschal's housekeeper.
Moustique, Captain's boy on board the "Cormorant."
[Nobles of the Court of Rousillon, the watch of Perpignan, citizens,
gossips, wedding-guests, sailors, etc.]
The scene is laid at Perpignan on the Mediterranean Sea; time of Louis
the Fourteenth.
Following the English version of the opera, at the opening of the first
act the villagers of Perpignan are greatly excited over the approaching
marriage of Olivette, the Seneschal's daughter, and De Mérimac, an old
sea-captain. Olivette, however, just out of a convent, is in love with
Valentine, a young officer and the Captain's nephew. In the mean time the
Countess of Rousillon is also in love with Valentine and has come to
Perpignan to see him. She is at the house of the Seneschal, and is
surprised there by Valentine, who has climbed her balcony expecting to
find Olivette. The old Captain, who is making slow progress with his
suit, writes to the Countess demanding Olivette's hand. Valentine seizes
his opportunity, passes himself off as the Captain, and marries Olivette
at the request of the Countess herself.
The second act opens with a ball which the Countess gives in honor of the
wedding, at which Valentine is forced to personate both himself and the
Captain. The latter appears upon the scene, and is heartily congratulated
as the bridegroom. When Valentine also appears as the old man, De Mérimac
resolves he will have the bride whom Valentine has secured by the use of
his name. By a little craft Olivette rids herself of her elderly suitor
only to encounter fresh trouble, for the Countess declares she will marry
the soldier. A plot is formed, the result of which is an order sending
the Countess out of the kingdom.
The opening of the last act shows that the plot is partially successful.
The Countess is a prisoner on board De Mérimac's vessel, and Olivette and
Valentine, who are disguised as sailors, seek a vessel to take them away;
but Valentine is recognized and seized, Olivette contrives to free the
Countess, and passes herself off for her, Olivette's maid, Veloutine,
pretending to be her mistress. This introduces a new complication, for
the near-sighted Duke des Ifs courts the maid, supposing her to be
Olivette, and boasts of it to Valentine in the hearing of De Mérimac.
Both uncle and nephew then renounce Olivette until the Countess returns
and an explanation is made. In the dénouement Valentine is united to
Olivette and the Countess to the Duke, while the old Captain is advised
to follow the example of the Venetian Doges and "marry the sea," which he
promptly hastens to do, and follows his bride ever after.
The music of "Olivette" is light and sprightly throughout, the most
taking numbers being the marine madrigal, a song with chorus, "The Yacht
and the Brig"; the pretty waltz song, "O Heart, wherefore so light," sung
by the Countess; Olivette's tyrolienne song, "The Convent slept";
Valentine's serenade, "In Quaint and in Mystic Word," and Olivette's
characteristic sob song, "Oh! my Father," in the first act: Olivette's
serio-comic song, "The Matron of an Hour"; the Countess' song, "When
Lovers around Woman throng"; another humorous song for Olivette, "I do
think Fate, upon my Life"; a charming duet for Olivette and the Countess,
"Like Carrier Dove, I'll swift be flying," with the refrain, "I love my
Love so well," and the jolly farandole, "The Vintage over, then Maid and
Lover," sung and danced by Olivette, Countess, and chorus, in the second
act: the romanza "Nearest and dearest," an effective number for the
Countess, and three delicious bits of nonsense,--"Give Milk to Babes, to
Peasants Beer," styled in the score a Grog-orian chant, the ridiculous
legend "The Torpedo and the Whale," and the dashing bolero, "Where Balmy
Garlic scents the Air," in the last act.
The Mascot.
[Comic opera, in three acts; text by Chivat and Duru. First produced at
the Bouffes Parisiens, Paris, December 29, 1880; first American
production, Gaiety Theatre, Boston, April 12, 1881.]