The Daring of Diane

or The Merry Grisettes

(1907) Music by Heinrich Reinhardt • Original English Libretto by Arthur Anderson New Performance Edition and Revisions by Steven A. Daigle SYNOPSIS

Quite in the La Bohème fashion, three aspiring artists—the poet Prosper, the musician Severin, and the painter Julien—share a tattered garret in the heart of Montmartre. Prosper and Severin poke fun at Julien’s apparent inexperience with the opposite sex. In his defense, Julien reveals that, two weeks before, an aunt forwarded him 500 francs, with a promise of 2500 more as soon as he completed his art studies … but, under the condition that, during this time, he have no love affair. Furthermore, he reveals that, three weeks before, he had met at the Louvre a young woman named Diane—very rich and of noble background— who promised to take an interest in his art. Voices are heard from outside—it is those of grisettes Carolie and Rosalie, the girlfriends, respectively, of Prosper and Severin. The two couples rejoice in being together, while Julien laments his unhappy loveless state. Disconsolate at his easel, he can’t stop staring at the sketch that he has begun of a beautiful woman. No sooner have Carolie and Rosalie departed than Prosper and Severin decide to pay a visit to the Café Momus. Julien declines their invitation to join them. Once his friends have gone, Julien responds to a knock at the door: it is the elegantly dressed Diane, who explains that, ten years before, driven by her quest for high position, she had married a marquis. Despite her incessant attempts to win his love, he continually shunned her. Left with no alternative, she ran away to seek revenge on her husband by pretending to take a lover … namely Julien. She has left a letter for her husband, informing him of her intentions and her whereabouts. Julien now fears for his own safety, even more so when Diane doubles down by insisting that she will not leave the room until her husband has found her there. When Julien cautions her about his aunt’s stipulation of “no romance,” Diane kicks into high gear…

Setting: A garret overlooking Montmartre – 1900s Cast Prosper (poet)..................................Benjamin Krumreig Julien (artist) ......................................Christopher Sapp Severin (musician) ......................................Vince Gover Carolie ..................................................Joelle Lachance Rosalie ..............................................Michelle Pedersen Diane ..................................................... Tanya Roberts Steven A. Daigle, Stage Director Wilson Southerland, Music Director, piano Spencer Reese, Choreographer Charlene Gross, Costume Designer Justin Gibson, Lighting Designer Kiah Kayser, Scenic and Props Artisan Christopher Plummer, Sound Designer