Mlle. Modiste Music by Victor Herbert; Book and Lyrics by Henry Blossom Premiere: Knickerbocker Theatre, New York City, December 25, 1905
What better way to celebrate Victor Herbert's 150th birthday than with OLO's first production of the composer's 1905 masterpiece Mlle. Modiste. Ground-breaking in its treatment of societal stereotypes and a woman's triumph over gender-based bias, Herbert and his librettist have molded a story and score full of charm, wit, and romance.
The industrious Fifi works as a hat girl in the Parisian shop of Madame Cécile, who sees her star employee as the perfect mate for her useless son Gaston. Fifi, however, has her sights set on the aristocratic Captain Etienne, whose snobby uncle, Count de St. Mar, vows to put an end to the relationship. When American millionaire Hiram Bent enters the shop, Fifi reveals to him her dream for a stage career—after her vocal "audition," he is intent on providing help. When Madame Cécile threatens to fire Fifi if she doesn't marry Gaston, Fifi quits, confident of her decision, but uncertain of her future until she learns that Hiram has made available 5000 francs as a loan so that she can pursue her goal. A year later, Fifi returns as a hugely successful opera star, still shunned by Etienne's uncle, but vowing that soon he will beg her to marry his nephew. Through charm and cleverness, Fifi eventually gains the upper hand.
Mlle. Modiste represents Victor Herbert at his most tuneful. Fifi's extended audition number, "If I were on the stage," with its irresistible waltz refrain, "Kiss me again," is one of the most popular and recorded songs in the entire operetta repertoire. With roses in hand, Etienne arrives at the hat shop singing "The time, and the place, and the girl," and Etienne's uncle leaves no doubt of his stubbornness in the march-song "I want what I want when I want it." And, Herbert pulls out all the stops as Etienne and his fellow soldiers welcome back Fifi in the toe-tapping "The mascot of the troop."
