Jacques Offenbach's
La Vie Parisienne
Book and Lyrics by Henri Meilhac & Ludovic Halevy
Translation by Ron Orenstein, The Comic Opera Guild


Feb. 15, 16, 21, 22, & 23 and Mar. 1 & 2, 2002 at 8pm
Feb. 17 and Mar. 3, 2002 at 2pm

Directed by Elizabeth Vrenios
Music Directed by Joseph Sorge
Conducted by Webster Alexander Rogers, Jr.

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Cast

Raoul De Gardefeu, a French dandy - Robert Worst
Gabrielle, a glovemaker - Shelly Breneman
Bobinet, a French dandy - Todd Allen Long
Barton Gandermack, a rich industrialist - Jed Collard (Feb 15, 21, 23, & Mar. 1),  William Weiss (Preview, Feb 16, 17, 22 & Mar. 2 & 3)
Baroness Gandermack, Swedish Royalty - Denise Young
Metella, a courtesan - Chrissellene Petropoulos
The Brazilian, a rich South American - Julio Martinez
Frick, a bootmaker - Shawn T. Perry
Pauline, the housekeeper - Racheal Goldman
Urbain, a servant - David Williams
Louise, a housemaid - Shirley Santilhano Friedman
Prosper, a servant - Ira Haber
Leonie, a housemaid - Gaye Freese
Clara, a housemaid - Deborah Jacobson
Alphonse, butler to Gardefeu - Kent Woods
Joseph, a British guide - Richard Garbutt
Madame de Quimper Karadec - Nancy Shneiderman
Mlle. Folie-Verdure, her niece - Susanna Reckord-Raymer
Gontran, one of Metalla's suitors - Bob Jacobson

Railroad Employees
Lyle Jaffe, Susanna Reckard-Rayner, Maureen Roult, 
Meaghan A. Williams, Kent Woods

Chorus
Libby Dorot, Les Elkins, Claire Epstein, Thomas Fuchs, Donna Jaffe, Elizabeth Anne Keller, Gina Nowacki, Ariana Pullano, Julie A. Stevens, Rusty Suter, Caren Welik

Production Staff

Producers - Denise Young & Todd Allen Long
Artistic Director - Rosalie Santilhano
Assistant Director - Todd Allen Long
Stage Manager - Marie Johnson
Lighting Designer - Kerry Freese
Set Designers - David M. Smith, Heidi L. Castle-Smith
Carpenters - Ed Byrdy, William Kolodrubetz, AI Fetske
Costumers - Gaye Freese, Andrea Schewe, Denise Young
Light Board Operator - Kerry Freese
Spot Operator - Julie Utley
Technical Director (Rockville Civic Center) - Kim Haug
Technical Crew - Ed Byrdy, Tony Dwyer,  William Kolodrubetz,  Steven Mager
Rehearsal Pianists - Jenny Craley Bland, Elizabeth Baseftel
Overture Arrangement - Antal Dorati
Make-Up - Renee Silverstone, Stan Sustersic
Tickets and Box Office - Merle Haber
Program - Leta Hall
Publicity - Ira Haber, Bill Rippey
Set Construction/Painting - Tony Dwyer, Les Elkins, Richard Gorbutt, Ira Haber, Merle Haber, Gay Hill, Bob Jacobson, Todd Long, Gina Nowacki, Caetano Ordonez, Bill Rippey, Kent Woods
Properties - Linda Nadeau, Debbie Peetz, Sue Stockley
House Management - Caroline Hummel, Aroostine McDowell-Long, Rosalie Santilhano
Set Storage - Maureen Roult, City of Gaithersburg, Rockville Civic Center
Printing - Quick Printing, Inc.

VLOC would like to extend its sincere thanks to:
Scott Bloom, Chevy Chase United Methodist Church, Grace Episcopal Church, Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, St. John's (Norwood) Episcopal Church, Rockville Band, Rockville Little Theater, Rockville Musical Theater, Rosebud Musical Theater Co., and Silver Spring Stage for their efforts on its behalf.

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Orchestra

Violin I - Stephen Natrella*, David Friedlander**, Otto Willim***, Bonnie Resnick, Angela Shen
Violin II - Carolyn Larson, Martin Brown, Peter Mignerey, Alana Lisov, Edwin Schneider
Viola - Sylvia Kniel, Rich Albert, Martin Fraeman
Violincello - Liz Ryan, Thurston Griggs, Sheryl Friedlander, Andrew Schneider (alt. Flute)
Bass Viol - David Ross, Nancy Sitton, Alice Mignerey
Flute & Piccolo - Jackie Miller, Louise Hill
Oboe - James Utley, Gwen Earle
Clarinet - James Bensinger, Laura Bornheft, Laura Langbein
Bassoon - Brett Lewis, Jim Caron
French Horn - Nancy Utley, Lorin Krusberg, Deanna Puryear
Trumpet - Paul Weiss, Curtis Anstine, Bernie Rappaport
Trombone - Steve Ward, Will Fraize, Frank Rusco
Percussion - George Huttlin, Ron Carlson
​*   Concertmaster
**  Assistant Concertmaster
*** Associate Concertmaster

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Synopsis

Setting: Paris, 1883
Gardefeu and Bobinet run into each other at the train station. Each is there hoping to meet Metella, a courtesan. She arrives with another man and pretends she has never met them. Gardefeu and Bobinet agree to give up on her and persue society women. Gardefeu meets his former valet, Joseph, who is now a tour guide for the Grand Hotel. He is there to meet the Gandermacks, an American industrialist and a Swedish Baroness. Gardefeu replaces Joseph as their guide with the intention of seducing the Baroness.

Gardefeu takes the Gandermacks to his townhouse, explaining it is "one of the Grand Hotel's little hotels." Gandermack makes it clear that he intends to enjoy Paris to the fullest including meeting Metella, who was recommended to him by a friend. He also wants dinner in the "public" dining room. Gardefeu persuades his glove maker, Gabrielle and boot maker, Frick, to impersonate a Brigadier's widow and a Major. They agree to bring their German friends to fill out the party.

Bobinet has agreed to arrange a party for Gandermack at his aunt's home while she is out of town. This will allow Gardefeu to get the Baroness alone. The aunt's servants, Urbain, Prosper, Pauline, Clara, Leonie and Louise, impersonate society people intent on keeping Gandermack there as long as possible.

Meanwhile, Gardefeu's plans for the Baroness are interrupted by the arrival of Madame de Quimper-Karadec and her niece, Mademoiselle Folie-Verdure, Bobinet's aunt and cousin. They have just left their home where the servants were dressed up and running wild. The Baroness reads a letter given to her on the street in which Metella uncovers Gardefeu's plans and details what her husband is up to. The Baroness sneaks out, leaving Madame de Quimper-Karadec to take her place with Gardefeu, much to his disappointment. A drunken Gandermack returns with Bobinet and the servants to find his wife gone.

At the Cafe de Parts the Brazilian millionaire is hosting a masquerade party to celebrate his marrtage to Gabrtelle. Gandermack is left abandoned by Metella and his wife and challenges Gardefeu to a duel. The women interrupt and all are reconciled. The magic and romance of Parts have won out.

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Musical Numbers

Overture

Act I

• We work as employees (Railroad Employees
  
• We're going to get completely wet (Ensemble, Gardefeu,  Bobinet, Metella, & Gontran)
• I hear that high-born ladies are saying (Bobinet & Gardefeu)
• Life really can be so surprising (Gardefeu)
  
• Other guides tho' you may try 'em (Gardefeu & The Gandermacks)
• Ah, Parts, we hurl ourselves upon you (Ensemble)
  
• Come in sweet girl (Frick & Gabrielle)
  
• Here in Paris (Gandermack & Gardefeu)
  
• A year ago November (Metella)
  
• There on the battlefield I stand (Frick)
  
• We've accepted your invitation (Finale) (Ensemble)
  

Act II

• With supreme sophistication (Servants)
  
• Now are you sure (Bobinet & Servants)
  
• I tell you that love (Pauline & Gandermack)
  
• To look her best (Gabrielle, Servants & Gandermack)
  
• I'm afraid you're splitting down the back (Gandermack, Pauline, Gabrielle, Bobinet, & Servants)
  
• The time has come (Finale) (Ensemble)
  

Act III

• I'm still enraptured and delighted (Baroness)
  
• We're spinning, spinning, spinning (Gardefeu, Bobinet, Gandermack, & Urbain)
  
• To scale the heights of our profession (Urbain & Waiters)
  
• Here we are, my friend (Metella)
  
• You thought on coming to this city (Baroness Mile Folie-Verdure, Mde. Quimper Karadec & Gandermack)
  
• Now's the time for girls entrancing (Ensemble)
  
• So raise your glass (Finale) (Ensemble)