Show Synopsis:
Gabriel von Eisenstein is going to prison for eight days and his maid Adele asks for a leave of absence to go to Prince Orlofsky's ball, though her boss believes she is going to visit a sick relative. Eisenstein's friend Falke wants him to go to the ball too, so he lies to Adele and his wife Rosalinde about exactly what day he will go to prison. The prison's governor Frank arrives for Eisenstein but instead finds Rosalinde with her lover Alfred, and Alfred goes to prison instead. The ball is actually an elaborate prank for Falke to humiliate Eisenstein in retaliation for a past incident, and Rosaline, Eisenstein, and Adele are all there in disguise. Rosalinde filches a valuable watch from Eisenstein's pocket while they flirt, completely aware that he is her husband, and plans to use it as evidence of his infidelity. The next morning, Adele and her sister are thrown in prison, but when Falke reveals his reasons for holding the ball, affairs begin to fall into place. Eisenstein tells Rosalinde that he was too drunk to understand what he was doing and Frank agrees to support Adele's theatrical ambitions so that she can quit being a maid, but Eisenstein still has to go to jail for eight days.
Character:
Adele, a young chambermaid who is overjoyed at the prospect of going to a ball; naïve but clever when the situation calls for it; wants to perform onstage.
Song Context:
Eisenstein is introduced to Adele in disguise, but does not recognize her, and Adele pretends to not know him at all.
Fun Facts:
1. This opera was inspired by Julius Roderich Benedix's play The Prison and Henri Melihac and Ludovic Halevy's play Le reveillon.
2. World renowed soprano Barbara Bonney played the role of Adele at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 1989 and told Bruce Duffie in an interview that she saw Adele as quite dumb.
3. This song is commonly known as "The Laughing Song" or "Adele's Laughing Song."
"My dear marquis, a man like you
Should better understand that.
Therefore, I advise you to look more
Closely at people!
This hand is surely far too fine, hahaha,
This foot so dainty and small, hahaha.
The manner of speaking which I have,
My waist, my bustle,
These would never be found
On a lady's maid!
You really must admit,
This mistake was very comical!
Yes, very comical, hahaha,
Is this matter, hahaha.
So pardon me, hahaha,
If I laugh, ha ha ha!
Yes, very comical, hahaha,
Is this matter, hahaha!
You are very comical, Marquis!
With this profile in Grecian style
Being a gift of nature;
If this face doesn't say enough,
Just look at my figure!
Just look through your lorgnette, ah,
At this outfit, ah,
It seems to me that love
Has clouded your eyes.
The image of your chambermaid
Has quite filled your heart!
Now you see her everywhere,
This is truly a very comic situation!
Yes very comical, hahaha,
Is this matter, hahaha ,
So pardon me , hahaha,
If I laugh, hahaha!
Yes very comical, hahaha,
Is this matter, hahaha."
Mein Herr Marquis,
My Sir Marquis,
Ein Mann wie Sie,
A man like you,
Sollt besser das verstehn!
Should better (than) that understand!
Darum rate ich, ja genauer sich
Therefore advice I, well more-accurately yourself
Die Leute anzusehn.
The people to-observe.
Die Hand ist doch wohl gar zu fein,
This hand is but much too delicate,
Dies Füßchen so zierlich und klein,
This little-foot so cute and petite,
Die Sprache, die ich führe,
The language, which I command, (lead)
Die Taille, die Tournüre,
The waistline, the hairdo,
Dergleichen finden sie bei einer Zofe nie!
Equal-to-this find you with a chambermaid never!
Gestehen müssen sie fürwahr:
Admit must you indeed:
Sehr komisch dieser Irrtum war.
Very funny this error was.
Ja, sehr komisch ist die Sache,
Yes, very funny is the issue,
Drum verzeih'n sie wenn ich lache.
Therefore forgive (me) if I laugh.
Sehr komisch, Herr Marquis, sind sie!
Very funny, Sir Marquis, are you!
Mit dem Profil im griech'schem Stil
With this profile, in Greek style
Beschenkte mich Natur,
Gifted me (mother)-nature,
Wenn nicht dies Gesicht schon genügend spricht,
If not this face already sufficiently speaks,
So sehen sie die Figur!
Then appreciate the figure!
Schau'n durch die Lorgnette Sie dann,
Observe through the lorgnette (eye-glasses on a handle) you then,
Sich diese Toilette nur an,
Yourself this gown just (observe),
Mir scheinet [gar/wohl] die Liebe macht ihre Augen trübe;
To-me seems [even] the love makes your eyes blurred;
Der schönen Zofe Bild
The beautiful chambermaid's image
Hat ganz ihr Herz erfüllt!
Has completely your heart filled!
Nun sehen Sie sie überall,
Now see you her everywhere,
Sehr komisch ist fürwahr der Fall.
Very funny is indeed the situation.