Serpolette, the good-for-nothing.
Germaine, the lost Marchioness.
Susanne.
Jeanne.
Henri, Marquis of Corneville.
Jean Grenicheux, a fisherman.
Gaspard, an old miser.
Baillie, magistrate.
Notary.
[Peasants, sailors, servants, waiting-maids, etc.]
The scene is laid in Normandy; time of Louis the Fifteenth.
The first act of this charming opera, one of the most popular of its
class, opens in an old Norman village during the progress of a fair.
Henri, the Marquis of Villeroi, who has been an exile since childhood,
has just returned. The first scene discloses a number of village gossips
who are retailing scandals about Serpolette, the good-for-nothing, who
arrives in time to vindicate herself and retaliate upon the gossips.
Gaspard, the miser, has arranged to give his niece Germaine in marriage
to the sheriff, who is the chief dignitary in the village. Germaine,
however, objects to the proposition, since if she marries at all she
claims she must marry Jean Grenicheux, a young fisherman, in gratitude
for saving her life. To escape the marriage she and Jean become the
servants of the Marquis, and are joined by Serpolette, which is one of
the privileges of fair-time.
The second act is occupied with the exposure of the ghosts in the castle
of Villeroi. The Marquis is confident that there is nothing supernatural
about the apparition which has been seen or the sounds which have been
heard in the various apartments. He therefore introduces his servants
into the castle, and after careful searching discovers that the ghost of
Villeroi is old Gaspard, the miser, who, when he is found out, becomes
crazy through fear of losing treasures which are concealed there.
In the last act the castle is restored to its old splendor, and the
Marquis takes possession as master. He gives a fête and the villagers are
invited, the crazy Gaspard being among them. Serpolette appears as a
grand lady with Jean as her factotum, some papers found in the castle
indicating she is the lost heiress. After a love scene between Henri and
Germaine, however, Gaspard, who has recovered his reason, discloses that
Germaine, and not Serpolette, is the rightful heiress and the true
claimant to the title of marchioness. All the complications are now
unravelled. Gaspard's treasure is restored to its rightful owner.
Germaine comes to her rights, and Serpolette remains with her as her
friend.
The music of the opera is delightful throughout, and has scarcely a dull
moment. Its most conspicuous numbers are Serpolette's rondo, "In my
Mysterious History"; a delightful little fantaisie, "Go, Little Sailor";
the legend of the chimes, "Alas! we have lost Excellent Masters"; Henri's
grand aria, "I have thrice made the Tour of the World"; and his couplets,
"Under the Armor from Top to Toe"; Serpolette's sprightly aria,
"Viscountess and Marchioness"; the chorus with the chimes, a most
graceful and interesting number closing the second act; and in the last
act Gaspard's quaint old Norman song, "We were full Five Hundred Rogues";
Serpolette's rondo, "The Apple's a Fruit full of Vigor"; and Henri's
romance, "A Servant, what Matter to me?"