by Gaetano Donizetti

Performed in French with English Dialogue and English supertitles.

Belding Theater, The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts
Friday, March 6, 2009 ( 8:00 pm)
Sunday, March 8, 2009 ( 2:00 pm)
Thursday, March 12, 2009 ( 7:30 pm)
Saturday, March 14, 2009 ( 8:00 pm)

ACT I.
The Tyrolean mountains. On their way to Austria, the terrified Marquise of Berkenfield and her butler, Hortensius, have paused in their journey because a skirmish has broken out. When the Marquise hears from the villagers that the French troops have retreated, she comments on the rude manners of the French people (“Pour une femme de mon nom”). Sulpice, sergeant of the 21st regiment, assures everyone that his men will restore peace and order. He is joined by Marie, the mascot, or “daughter,” of the regiment, which adopted her as an orphaned child. When Sulpice questions her about a young man she has been seen with, she explains that he is a local Tyrolean who once saved her life. Troops of the 21st arrive with a prisoner: this same Tonio, who says he has been looking for Marie. She steps in to save him, and while he toasts his new friends, Marie sings the regimental song (“Chacun le sait”). Tonio is ordered to follow the soldiers, but he escapes and returns to declare his love to Marie. Sulpice surprises them, and Marie must admit to Tonio that she can marry only a soldier from the 21st.

The Marquise of Berkenfield asks Sulpice for an escort to return her to her castle. When he hears the name Berkenfield, Sulpice remembers a letter he found near the young Marie on the battlefield. The Marquise soon admits that she knew the girl’s father and says that Marie is the long-lost daughter of her sister. The child had been left in the care of the Marquise, but was lost. Shocked by the girl’s rough manners, the Marquise is determined to give her niece a proper education and to take her to her castle. Tonio has enlisted so that he can marry her (“Ah, mes amis”). But Marie has to leave both her regiment and the man she loves (“Il faut partir”).

ACT II.
A Large Drawing Room in the Chateau Berkenfield

The Marchioness has arranged a match for Marie with the Duke of Krackenthorp. She calls Sulpice to her home and asks him to encourage Marie who, although she has agreed to the wedding, is less than enthusiastic about it. The Marchioness has been concerned to refine the girl’s regimental manners, but when Marie sees Sulpice again it is clear that she still hankers after her former way of life.

To Marie’s delight, all her old comrades appear, among them Tonio, now an officer. He approaches the Marchioness to tell her how he loves Marie, but she informs him of her plans and dismisses him. Left alone with Sulpice, the Marchioness at last confesses that Marie is in fact her daughter: the marriage she has arranged will, she feels, settle the awkward position which mother and daughter find themselves in.

The marriage contract is to be signed that day, and the duke’s mother, the Duchess of Krackenthorp, arrives with other guests for the ceremony.  Marie has now learned that the Marchioness is her mother and, appearing late, she steels herself to sign, but suddenly the truth is revealed by Hortensius that the Duke and Marie actually have the same father. Being that Marie cannot marry her half brother, the Marchioness gives her blessing to Tonio and Marie and Sulpice offers the Duke a place in the regiment to follow in his father’s footsteps. A celebration ensues.