Often called 'The Queen of Operettas', The Merry Widow is certainly the most celebrated and successful show of its kind ever written. The melodies and songs - Vilja", "The Merry Widow Waltz", "You'll Find Me At Maxim's" to name but a few - are lovingly played and sung the whole world over, making it one of the surest box-office attractions of all time.
THE STORY
The action of The Merry Widow takes place in Paris. In Act I we find ourselves in the ballroom of the Pontevedrin Embassy. The Ambassador, Baron Zeta, has a problem on his mind. He must find a way to save his country from bankruptcy. One solution is to prevent the rich and beautiful heiress Hanna Glavari from marrying a foreigner. He has decided that Danilo, an Embassy attaché, would be the ideal bridegroom and the purpose of the party we are witnessing is to bring the two together. But all is not going to plan! The light-hearted and irresponsible Danilo has not yet arrived at the party and cannot be found. Immersed in matchmaking Baron Zeta has failed to observe that his wife, Valencienne, is engaged in a passionate flirtation with a French officer, Camille, the Count de Rosillon. At last Anna arrives escorted by a crowd of hopeful suitors and the party adjourns for supper. Meanwhile, Danilo arrives. He has been traced to his favourite haunt, Maxim’s. Exhausted by the round of party going, he falls asleep in the deserted ballroom. Valencienne and Camille return perturbed. Valencienne has forbidden Camille to declare his love, so he has written the words, I love you on her fan and now the fan cannot be found anywhere.
Anna reappears and Danilo awakens to greet her. They discover that they are old acquaintances, parted long since by Danilo’s rich uncle. Anna reminds Danilo of their past affair but he declares that he will never marry her now because of her fortune. Further complications arise over the lost fan. Anna chooses Danilo for her partner in Ladies’ Choice! and as she does so, realises that she is still attracted to him.
ACT II
The scene is yet another party, this time in the garden of Anna’s house. All the Pontevedrins are in national dress and Anna obliges with a national folksong, the famous Vilia. Baron Zeta confides in Danilo and tells him the story of the fan. Danilo immediately recognises the writing as that of Camille and is wondering who the lady can be. Anna is still annoyed at Danilo for continuing to avoid her. She is now completely in love with him, and he with her. It is only her millions and his pride that keep them apart. Danilo continues his unsuccessful search for the owner of the fan. The fan now comes into Anna’s possession and she is convinced that the inscription on it is Danilo’s declaration to her.
Meanwhile Valencienne and Camille appear and the pair retire to the summerhouse. Horror! Baron Zeta has called a meeting of his staff at the summerhouse. He finds the door locked and through the keyhole he believes he sees his wife and Camille. Furiously he tries to break down the door, but Valencienne escapes by another way and Anna takes her place. Camille comes out of the summerhouse and announces his engagement to Anna! Anna is delighted at Danilo’s reaction to the announcement; he is furiously jealous and she interprets this as a sign of true loveACT III
We are again in the garden of Anna’s house. This time it is decorated as Maxim’s.
Les Grisettes of WLO
Danilo is delighted to learn the truth of the summerhouse episode from Anna but he still cannot declare himself. Only when she tells him that by the terms of her late husband’s will does she lose her millions on remarriage, does he propose. She accepts gladly and then tells him that the millions go to whoever becomes her new husband.
PRINCIPALS
| Hanna Glavari | The Merry Widow |
| Count Danilovitsch (Danilo) | Attaché at the Pontevedrian Embassy in Paris |
| Baron Zeta | Pontevedrian Ambassador in Paris |
| Valencienne | his Wife |
| Camille | (Count de Rosillon) |
| Njegus | Baron Zeta's Factotum |
| St Brioche | A Diplomat |
| Cascada | A Diplomat |
| Kromov | An Attaché |
| Olga | his wife |
| Bogdanovitsch | Attaché |
| Pritsch | Attaché |
| Sylvia | Guest at the Embassy |
| Praskova | Guest at the Embassy |
| The Grisettes at Maxims | Lolo Dodo Jou-Jou Frou-Frou Clo-Clo Margot |
MUSICAL NUMBERS
Act I
| Overture | Orchestra |
| Pontivedro in Paree | Cascada, Zeta and Chorus |
| Ballroom Music | Orchestra |
| A Highly Respectable Wife | Valencienne and Camille |
| So Many Men Admire Me | Ann and Men's Chorus |
| You'll Find Me at Maxim's | Danilo and Ladies |
| It Goes To Show | Anna and Danilo |
| Finale Act 1 | Anna, Valencienne, Danilo, Camille, St Brioche, Cascada and Chorus |
Act II
| Opening Act II | Ensemble |
| Vilia | Anna and Ensemble |
| Driving in the Park with You | Anna and Danilo |
| Women! Women! Women! | Danilo, Cascada, Zeta, St. Brioche, Kromov, Bogdanovitsch & Pritschitsch |
| The Waltz Scene | Anna and Danilo |
| Flowers are Awakened in Maytime | Valencienne and Camille |
| Finale Act II | Ensemble |
Act III
| Entr'acte | Orchestra |
| Opening Dance | Orchestra |
| The Grisettes Song | Valencienne, Lolo, Dodo, Jou-Jou, Frou-Frou, Clo-Clo, Margot and Ensemble |
| Reprise: You'll Find me at Maxim's | Lolo, Dodo, Jou-Jou, Frou-Frou, Clo-Clo, Margot and Danilo |
| The Merry Widow Waltz | Anna and Danilo |
| Finale Act III | Ensemble |
The Merry Widow, english adaptation for amateur performance by Phil Park and Ronald Hanmer.
