anurge

Haulte farce musicale en 3 actes

Libretto by George Spitzmüller & Maurice Boukay

Music by J. Massenet

First Performance: Théâtre de la Gaité, Paris, April 25, 1913

First Cast:

Rabelais’ La Vie tres horrifique du grand Gargantua, pere de Pantagruel

     Act I takes place at the Tavern of Alcofribas on Mardi Gras 1490. The scene opens on a crowd of townspeople milling around tables of food and wine. Pantagruel appears with his cronies: Malicorne, Carpalin, Gymnaste & Epistemon. They order and partake of some wine.
     Panurge approaches and in his hunger pulls a loaf of bread from inside his coat and looks for lard to go with it. The innkeeper stops and insists he pay for his food. Pantagruel invites the hungry traveler to join his group. Panurge addresses his host in Italian and German, but his host asks if he can speak French. Panurge informs him that he is native born from the provinces.
     Pantagruel invites his group to indulge in the wine, but Panurge cannot. It seems that he has lost his wife, Colombine, this very morning. His new companions invite his to drown his sorrows in the wine. In fact, Pantagruel invites the whole world into the tavern for a drink.
     Once the street is empty, Colombine enters and hears her husband’s voice. She tells us that Panurge wants nothing but drink. This very morning she feigned death to escape the stick. She hears his voice from within and calls him out. She presents herself resurrected and he fails to recognize her. She is enraged, but restrained by Pantagruel’s cronies, who leave with Parnuge to a secret hiding place.
     Act II takes page in the large courtyard of the Abbaye de Thélème. A large tree separates the main building from the chapel. It is morning and the Thelemites greet the new day. From one of the windows in the Abbey, Ribaude greets the spring morning.
     Brother Jean sneaks around the courtyard and finally slaps Ribaude on the backside. After the crowd has returned to their homes, Panurge enters and finds the laws of Thélème to his liking. As Ribaude enters from the chapel, she pays no attention to Panurge who hides but watches her with interest.
     When he sings her praises, she decides to accept the youth’s attention for it is one of the laws of Thélème. Pantagruel rings the courtyard bell and enters with his cronies. Brother Jean recognizes Pantagruel as an old friend and welcomes his guest, describing the workings of the Thélèmites.
     Ribaude enters with a group of women on their way to the chapel. They are greeted by Brother Jean with compliments. After they have entered the chapel, Colombine enters. She has followed her husband to this foreign land. She is surprised by the sensuous sculptures at the fountain. Ribaude meets her there and discovers that Colombine has come in search of her husband. Ribaude tells her that Panurge was courting her here at the same fountain.
     The two hide as servants set a meal in the courtyard. The men enter and sit down to a sumptuous mean. Pantagruel tries to say grace, but only praises the grape. Panurge ponders the question of whether he should remarry since he cannot remember his former wife. They consult the philosopher Brid’oye, the poet Raminagrobis and the physician Dr. Rondibilis. Their consultation only confuses Panurge more.
     Ribaude enters and Panurge leaves the meal to flirt some more with the pretty woman. But since Ribaude knows that Panurge is a married man, only rejects and ridicules his advances. Colombine enters and joins Pantagruel’s table. Brother Jean tells her that the only way to keep a husband is to make him jealous. Brother Jean arranges for Panurge to hear her confession in the guise of a monk. As Colombine starts describing her failings, Panurge in outraged. The listing of her lovers is more than he can handle and he cannot contain his jealousy. Panurge says that he knows her husband and that he has escaped to the Island of Lanterne. She declares that she will follow him there and leaves. Panurge is unable to control his anger and proceeds to break everything in sight.
     Act III takes place on a beach on the Island of Langerne. Colombine, dressed as a priestess of Bacchus, tells the Queen of the Lanternoys that she misses her husband. A small boat arrives with Panurge, who is seeking his wife. The Queen invites him to stay with her in her palace. She offers a room with a table in front and a fire in back. He accepts and salutes the Oracle of Bacchus.
     The Queen offers Colombine the chance to be the voice of the Oracle when her husband returns. As Colombine assumes the role of Sibyl, Panurge is brought back. He wishes to make a sacrifice to the god and offers to purchase a lamb from a local shepherd. The price is too high, and he throws the lamb into the ocean. Not only does the shepherd dive into the ocean but the locals as well.
     The Sibyl enters and answers Panurge’s question about his wife, by saying that he would find his wife if he drank less (only take wine from her hand) and not use the whip on her. When he agrees, the Oracle is closed again. Brother Jean, Pantagruel and the cronies arrive by ship.
     Colombine, who has removed Sibyl’s disguise, joins her husband. She calls for a bottle of wine and the Queen reminds him of his oath. As she fills his cup to the brim, all are happy as the curtain falls.

1913

Introduction:

Statue in Luxembourg Gardens, Paris

The performers

Sets & Costumes

Other graphics

Poster

Site Map

A word from Bob

Contact Bob

Last updated March 17, 2008