The man with the top hat

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Work data
Title: The man with the top hat
Shape: Musical comedy
Original language: German
Music: Just shy
Libretto : Just shy and serious Nebhut
Premiere: April 12, 1950
Place of premiere: Frankfurt am Main
Place and time of the action: Paris 1852
people

The man with the top hat is a musical comedy in three acts by Just Scheu , which is close to the operetta. The libretto was created in collaboration between the composer and Ernst Nebhut . The play had its world premiere on April 12, 1950 at the Städtische Bühnen Frankfurt am Main . It was the greatest success of the proven team of authors and, in the 1950s, achieved the highest number of performances of all operettas in the German-speaking area during some seasons.

action

place and time

The work is set in the small salon in the Palais of the President of the Republic of France in Paris at the end of 1852, a few days before Louis Napoléon's coronation as Emperor Napoléon III.

Acts first to third

Countess Eugenie is heartbroken. Did anyone dare to kidnap their beloved pooch last night? But why is she finally engaged to Napoleon, President of the French Republic? She wants to see him early in the morning and ask for his help, but finds out that he is not at home. Instead of him, she meets Cicero, the highest-ranking policeman in the capital, in Napoléon's small salon. Cicero has also been waiting for his superior for a long time.

The wait was worth it, because at some point the master of the house shows up. The fact that he found his police chief in his study bothered him less; But he is embarrassed that Eugénie is already here too. But he's intelligent enough to always have a suitable excuse on hand. So he assures his bride that last night he finally managed to reconcile with his greatest enemy, the street singer Boubou, and even to make friends. Much depends on it, especially since in a few days the people will be called to a vote to elect an emperor. Boubou is a staunch Republican who is cheered by many sections of the people when he sings his mocking song about the "man in the top hat", which of course means none other than the president himself. When Eugénie discovers a blond woman's hair on her fiancé's tailcoat and demands an explanation from him, Napoléon can only get out of the affair by explaining to her that he must now urgently listen in private to the night report of his police chief. He learns that he had the street singer arrested. In order not to appear as a liar in front of Eugénie, he instructs Cicero to fetch Boubou immediately so that the matter can be clarified with him.

Boubou is completely taken aback by the President's request. His assurance, however, that he would never be arrested again if he could give him an alibi for Eugénie, quickly melts his initial suspicions. The offer to be able to sing safely what, when and where he wants is too tempting.

A little later, Cicero reappears in the palace and proudly announces to his boss that he had caught Boubou red-handed when he was singing his song about the "man in a top hat" again in front of the palace. That's why he's behind bars again. The police chief hears about the deal the president has made with the street singer. He hurries off to set Boubou free again immediately.

Eugénie finally finds the opportunity to describe the details of the dog theft to her fiancé: A man has climbed into her room over the balcony. At first she believed it was Napoleon. That's why she let him kiss her passionately. But she only became aware of the painful truth when the stranger disappeared again and her dear little dog was missing.

A brisk lady forcibly gains entry into the presidential palace. She calls herself Jolie and absolutely wants to speak to the head of state. When the two face each other, they are mutually surprised; for Napoleon had escaped to the nearest house that night while fleeing from revolutionaries. He met that Jolie and adored her as if she were his lover. Now Jolie wants her husband, the street singer Boubou, back as soon as possible. When she hears from Napoléon that he has already ordered his release, it takes a load off her heart. She willingly lets herself in for a little dance with the president. At this very moment Boubou enters the drawing room again. This time the countess had called for him. When Boubou sees his wife dancing in Napoléon's arms, he is seized with jealousy. Angrily, he casts her withering looks. In order to save Jolie from her husband, Napoléon withdraws with her to the orangery.

A real flirt develops from the chat between Eugénie and Boubou. But the countess is far too clever and ambitious not to succumb to the danger that this affair could have for her. Her dearest wish is to become empress. Everything else is only secondary. As a result, she sends Boubou away again.

The overzealous police chief had Boubou arrested a third time, this time for stealing dogs. But now the street singer benefits from his agreement with the president. He calls him as a witness because he has sat with him all night and celebrated friendship. Boubou is free again. Now Cicero proudly announces that he also has good news for Napoléon: his valuable tobacco jar, which he has been missing since this morning, appeared during a house search. At the look of his boss, the policeman notices that he has almost blabbered and ends his sentence with the words “... with Napoléon's friend Boubou, where he left her.” Neither the countess nor Boubou fall for the wrong game that the two want to do with them. Eugénie now knows that her future husband wanted to cheat on her with Jolie, and Boubou suspects his wife of betraying him with the president. Already the air is ominously filled with two threatening marital quarrels. However, the two ladies are far too smart to let the situation escalate. Jolie offers all the charm of Paris and literally forces her husband to reconcile. The cool, calculating Eugénie is the prospect of becoming empress more important than love.

At the end of the musical comedy, Napoléon presented Boubou with his top hat in gratitude and encouraged him not to give up writing songs. He asks him and his wife to be his guests of honor at the imperial coronation.

music

The work is intended for singing actresses and actors, which is why information on the vocal ranges is missing. There is also no need for an orchestra; the composer only prescribes two grand pianos or upright pianos. If you like, you can add guitar and double bass. The voices are accompanied by the instruments as light as a feather and only grounding. This musical stage work shows elements of the operetta as well as signs of a musical. Because of the small cast it has its home in the chamber theaters.

Radio play adaptations

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