Victor Herbert's
Mlle. Modiste
(A Staged Concert Production)

Sept. 2 & 3, 2011 at 8pm
Sept. 4, 2011 at 2pm

Music Directed by Joseph Sorge
Directed by Elaine W. Kass

Cast

Fifi (Mlle. Modiste), clerk in the hat shop - Erin Winker
Mme. Cecile, owner of a Parisian hat shop - Andrea Schewe
Fanchette, Mme. Cecileʹs daughter - Laura Bass
Nanette, Mme. Cecileʹs daughter - Kristen Donovan
Mrs. Hiram Bent - Jennifer Rutherford
Marie Louise de Bouvray, Etienneʹs sister - Emma Gorin
Count Henri de Bouvray - Blair Eig
Etienne de Bouvray, nephew of the Count - Pete Oliver‐Krueger
Gaston, an artist, Mme. Cecileʹs son - Jacy DʹAiutolo
Francois, porter at Mme. Cecileʹs - Tom Mirenda
Lieut. Rene La Motte, engaged to Marie Louise - Tom Goode
Hiram Bent, American entrepreneur - Joseph Sorge (9/2), G.Stephen Stokes (9/3, 9/4)

Ensemble - Julia Frank, Laura Hubbard, Rand Huntzinger, Ralph Johnson, Casey Keeler, Erik Kreil, Sarah Martin, Carlton Maryott, Jane Maryott, Joshua Milton, Lisa Orr, Debbie Peetz, Julie Repeta, Lynn Ritland, Barbara Semiatin, Shelby Sours, Mary Stokes, Brittany Stranathan, Rusty Suter, H, Maria Wilson, Kent Woods, Denise Young

Production Staff

Producer - Denise Young
Stage Manager - T. Tamura Gardner
Costume Designer - Denise Young
Audition Pianist - Jenny Craley Bland
Rehearsal Pianists - Jenny Craley Bland, Addie Edelson & Judy Gardner
Props - Carlton & Jane Maryott
Photography - Harvey Levine
Program - Denise Young
Surtitles - Douglas Maryott
Cover & Poster Art - Erika White Abrams
Publicity - Ed Vilade
House Management - Cassandra Stevens
Set Storage - Rockville Civic Center

Orchestra

Violin 1 - Steve Natrella (CM), Bonnie Barrows, Irv Berner
Violin 2 -Martin Brown, Carolyn Larson, Naomi Change Nixon
Viola - Amanda Laudwein, David Zajic
Cello - Michael Stein, Sheryl Friedlander, Tom Zebovitz
Bass - Pete Gallanis, Alice Mignerey
Flute - Jackie Miller, Louise Hill
Oboe - Gwen Earle
Clarinet - Laura Langbein, Laura Bornhoeft
Bassoon -  Steve Rennings, Paul Chassy
Horn - Joe Cross, Adam Watson
Trumpet - Curt Anstine, Tom Gleason
Trombone - Al Potter, Frank Eliot
Percussion - George Huttlin, Joe Espineira

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Synopsis

Act I
Fifi is a shop girl, selling hats in Mme. Cécileʹs shop in the Rue de la Paix in Paris. She is the shopʹs 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 Etienneʹs 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 is 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 ʺauditionʺ piece, because she shows him exactly how she would play three very different kinds of roles, if given the opportunity (the last of these is ʺKiss Me Againʺ). He loans her $1000 to help her achieve this goal and win over her sweetheartʹs crotchety uncle, Count Henri. She leaves for Vienna to develop her talent.

Act II
A year later, Etienne is still pining for Fifi, who has not 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 ʺdiscoverʺ Fifiʹs presence. The two stage a ʺperformanceʺ for the Count in which Fifi defends the Count and Etienne calls him a ʺstupid old idiotʺ. The Count, impressed by Fifiʹs sincerity and her new position, as well as by Etienneʹs behavior, allows Fifi to sing, and ultimately to marry Etienne

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Musical Selections

Act I

• Opening Chorus (Fanchette, Nanette & Women’s Chorus)
• When the Cat’s Away the Mice Will Play (Fanchette, Nanette, Mme Cécile)
• I Should Think That You Could Guess (François & Women’s Chorus)
• The Time and the Place and the Girl (Etienne & Chorus)
• Soldier’s Exit (Orchestra)
• If I Were on the Stage (Kiss Me Again) (Fifi)
• Love Me, Love My Dog (Gaston)
• Hats Make the Woman (Fifi & Women’s Chorus)
• Finale I (Ensemble)

Act II

• Entr’acte (Orchestra)
• Chorus of Footmen (Men’s Chorus)
• I Want What I Want When I Want It (Count)
• Charity Bazaar (Marie Louise & Chorus)
• Ballet (Orchestra)
• I’m Always Misunderstood (François & Chorus)
• The Keokuk Culture Club (Mrs. Bent & Chorus)
• The Mascot of the Troop (Fifi & Men’s Chorus)
• The Dear Little Girl Who Is Good (Rene and Women’s Chorus)
• Ze English Language (Gaston)
• The Nightngale and the Star (Fifi)
• Finale II (Ensemble)