Mlle. Modiste Totally Explained

Everything about Mlle Modiste totally explained

Mlle. Modiste is an operetta in two acts written by Victor Herbert, libretto by Henry Blossom. It premiered on Broadway on December 25, 1905 at the Knickerbocker Theatre, where it ran for 202 performances. It was frequently revived early in the 20th century.
The operetta features the song "Kiss Me Again". Mlle. Modiste was revived and played several times by the Light Opera of Manhattan in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Synopsis

Act I Fifi is a shop girl, selling hats in Mme. Cécile's shop in the Rue de la Paix in Paris. She is the shop's best saleswoman, so Mme. Cécile plots to keep her there for free by marrying her off to her artist son, Gaston. But Fifi dreams of a career on the stage. In addition, Fifi and French army Captain Etienne de Bouvray, Viscount de St. Mar, are in love. But his uncle, the old aristocratic Count de St. Mar, is scandalized that Etienne would marry a shop girl. He threatens to cut off Etienne's allowance and to disinherit him. Fifi hopes that a stage career would allow Etienne to marry her because no one need be ashamed of such an alliance.
One day, when she's alone in the shop, a rich and eccentric American theatre promoter, Hiram Bent, bumbles in. Fifi tells him of her lifelong ambition, singing a wonderful number for him that serves as a kind of "audition" piece, because she shows him exactly how she'd play three very different kinds of roles, if given the opportunity (the last of these is "Kiss Me Again"). He loans her $1000 to help her achieve this goal and win over her sweetheart's crotchety uncle, Count Henri. She leaves for Vienna to develop her talent.

Act II A year later, Etienne is still pining for Fifi, who hasn't written him during that time, but who has, meanwhile, become a great success throughout Europe. Etienne and his sister, Marie Louise, are hosting a charity ball at the Chateau de St. Mar. Unknown to Etienne, Hiram Bent has arranged for Fifi to sing at the ball. The Count, learning of this, is enraged and forbids Fifi to sing. However, Hiram arranges for Etienne to "discover" Fifi's presence. The two stage a "performance" for the Count in which Fifi defends the Count and Etienne calls him a "stupid old idiot". The Count, impressed by Fifi's sincerity and her new position, as well as by Etienne's behavior, allows Fifi to sing, and ultimately to marry Etienne.

Recordings

The only recording of Mlle. Modiste was made by Reader's Digest for their 1963 album Treasury of Great Operettas. Each of the 24 operettas in the set is condensed to fill one Lp side. The Mlle. Modiste selections have not been re-released on Cd.

Roles

Mme. Cecile, owner of a Parisian hat shop (mezzo soprano)
Fifi, (Mlle. Modiste) clerk in the hat shop (soprano)
Etienne de Bouvray, nephew of the Count (tenor)
Count Henri de Bouvray, uncle of Etienne (baritone)
Hiram Bent, American entrepreneur (bass)

Musical numbers

Act 1

Furs and Feathers, Buckles and Bows -- Fanchette, Nanette and Girls

When the Cat's Away the Mice Will Play -- Fanchette, Nanette and Mme. Cecile

The Time, the Place and the Girl -- Capt. Etienne de Bouvray and Chorus

If I Were on the Stage (Kiss Me Again) -- Fifi

Love Me, Love My Dog -- Gaston

Hats Make the Woman -- Fifi and Female Chorus

Finale -- Entire Company

Act 2

I Want What I Want When I Want It -- Henri de Bouvray

Ze English Language -- Gaston

The Mascot of the Troop (Mascot of the Moon) -- Fifi and Male Ensemble

The Dear Little Girl Who is Good -- Lieut. Rene La Motte and Female Ensemble

The Keokuk Culture Club -- Mrs. Hiram Bent and Ensemble

The Nightingale and the Star -- Fifi

Finale -- Entire Company Further Information

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