Music orchestrated and arranged by John Lanchbery
Scenario: Jean Dauberval
Choreography: Frederick Ashton
Stage and Costume Design: Osbert Lancaster
Staging by Mikhail Messerer and Michael O'Hare
Ballet Mistress: Anna Razenko
Lighting Designer: Alexander Kibitkin
Répétiteurs: Evgeny Popov, Tatiana Legat, Anna Razenko
Musical Director of the production: Philip Ellis
This extraordinary ballet centres around the captivating character of Lise and her dreams of reuniting with her one true love, in spite of her mother’s best efforts to marry her off to their rich, albeit dim-witted neighbour. La fille mal gardée is a buoyant and scintillating ballet with has long captivated audiences with its charm. The Mikhailovsky Theatre’s production features Frederick Ashton’s choreography, regarded as a classic example of British ballet.
SYNOPSIS
Lise, the only daughter of Simone, who is a widow and owner of a prosperous farm, is in love with Colas, a young farmer, but her mother has far more ambitious plans.
Act I: The farmyard
The dawn of a busy day on the farm is heralded by the cockerel and his attendant hens. Lise, disappointed at not seeing Colas, leaves a ribbon tied in a lover’s knot as a token of her devotion. Colas finds it and binds it to his staff. The lovers meet, but are interrupted by Simone, who sets her daughter a task churning butter. Colas, hiding in the loft, joins her. The work is shared and then forgotten as they declare their love.
The farm girls summon Lise to play, but her mind is elsewhere. Her suspicious and ever-watchful mother catches hold of her and chastises her. Just then Thomas, the pompous and wealthy proprietor of a vineyard, arrives with his son Alain. Simone, aware of their mission, dismisses Lise, and Thomas asks her hand for his son. When Lise returns, Alain coyly and clumsy shows off his paces. She is amused and a little shocked by his antics, but not interested. They set off for the harvest.
Act II: The cornfield
It is harvest time, and after working in the fields the harvesters, led by Colas, relax in a joyful dance. Lise and Alain dance, but Colas intervenes, and the young girl makes it clear where her preference lies. One of the harvesters plays the flute, to everybody’s general delight, and Alain thinks he will have a try; but the harvesters mock him and he is rescued from their horseplay by his indignant father.
The field is now left clear for the triumphant Colas, who dances with Lise. Simone joins in the merriment of the harvesters. Suddenly they are interrupted by a storm that drenches them, scattering them far and wide.
Act III: Interior of the farmhouse
Mother and daughter, soaked by the storm, return to the farmhouse. They sit down to spin; work, thinks the mother, should keep Lise out of mischief. But she is overcome by sleep, and Lise, who has seen Colas through the gate, tries to take the key from her. Simone wakes and, in order to remain watchful, plays the tambourine for Lise to dance. But the beats grow feebler, she begins to nod, and now she is fast asleep.
Colas opens the top part of the farmhouse door and leans towards Lise. She runs joyfully into his arms. The knocking of the harvesters, coming for their pay, awakens Simone. Simone tells her daughter to get on with her chores as she leaves to give the harvesters a drink. Lise, thinking she is alone, dreams of the delights of married life.
Colas cannot resist and comes out from hiding. She is bashful at having been taken by surprise, but once again they declare their love, exchanging scarves as a token. As Simone reappears, Lise hustles Colas into her bedroom. The ever-suspicious mother suspects that the lovers have been meeting, and in her turn hustles Lise into the bedroom, locking the door.
Alain and his father now arrive with a notary to complete the contract. When it has been signed, Simone hands Alain the bedroom key. After a moment of idiotic indecision, he opens the door and, to everyone’s dismay, Colas and Lise come out. The lovers fall on their knees to ask Simone for forgiveness and a blessing. In spite of Thomas and Alain, she finally gives in amid general rejoicing.
Casts & Credits
- Home
- |
- Tours
- |
- Day tours
- |
- Rail tours
- |
- Shore excursions
- |
- My trip
- |
- About
Group Tour Packages
Company Information
US office
3422 Old Capitol Trail Suite 1252,
Wilmington DE, 19808 USA.
US toll-free: 1-888-845-8877
Russian office
Ligovsky pr. 57, Office 19,
191040, St. Petersburg, Russia
tel: +7-812-309-5339
© 2001 – 2024 by Northern Crown, Ltd. uVisitRussia and uVisitRussia.com are registered trademarks. Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy
Why Do You Need Our Travel Expert
Contact our experts, and they will help you to plan your best trip to Russia, with attention to every detail!
Our Experts have been in the travel industry for many years, guarantee to offer first class customer service, excellent value for money and unbiased advice. They are standing by to find and build your dream holiday to one of the world's most fascinating destinations - Russia.
Your personal Travel Expert will guide you through each stage of the travel process, from choosing a program that fits you best to support during your trip.
Just tell us your e-mail, and we'll take care of everything!
Ask a Travel Expert
Leave your phone number
Your tour request has been received. Thank you !
We have sent you the confirmation message to [email]
Please make sure that you receive this message (sometimes e-mail messages may go to the spam/junk mail).
If you did not get this message, it means you will not get message with the tours' selection as well. If you use a Yahoo!, Gmail, AOL or Hotmail, we recommend to add request@uvisitrussia.com to your address book.
We recommend to leave your phone number. If we will not heard back that you received the e-mail with the tours' selection, we will contact you by phone.
And you will not miss the best tour for you.
Thank you ! Your request for Travel Expert assistance has been sent. We will e-mail you within 1 hour.