Hopsa
| Work data | |
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| Title: | Hopsa |
| Shape: | Revue operetta |
| Original language: | German |
| Music: | Paul Burkhard |
| Libretto : | Paul Baudisch, Robert Gilbert and AL Robinson |
| Premiere: | First version: November 30, 1935, new version: October 12, 1957 |
| Place of premiere: | First version: Zurich, new version: Wiesbaden |
| Place and time of the action: | In a small American town and in New York around 1935 (first version) and 1957 (second version) |
| people | |
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Hopsa (title after the interjection hopsa! From colloquial German) is a revue operetta in two parts (18 pictures) by Paul Burkhard . The libretto was written by Paul Baudisch and Armin L. Robinson. The latter also contributed the lyrics together with Robert Gilbert . The work had its world premiere on November 30, 1935 at the Stadttheater Zürich . A new version was first published on October 12, 1957 in Wiesbaden .
orchestra
Two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two alto saxophones, two tenor saxophones, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, harp, banjo, piano or celesta, large percussion and strings. The composer also has a reduced orchestral line-up for smaller theaters.
Stage sets
First part: picture 1: in front of the curtain, picture 2: classroom in a girls' school,
picture 3: school garden, picture 4: hall in the town hall, picture 5: railway carriage, picture 6: large square in New York, picture 7: office in a theater , Picture 8: theater foyer;
Second part: picture 9: theater stage, picture 10: living room in an artist's boarding house ,
picture 11: hotel salon, picture 12: in a bar, picture 13: in front of the curtain,
picture 14: theater cloakroom, picture 15: room in a boarding house, picture 16: Walk to the stage,
picture 17 : revue picture on the stage, picture 18: farmer's house with garden
action
place and time
The operetta is set in the fictional small American town of Wiggletown and in New York City at the time of the respective premiere, i.e. the first version around 1935 and the new version around 1957.
First part
The orphan Mary Miller is just called "Hopsa" by everyone. Although the shy girl is secretly in love with his teacher Bill Carter, she hates school and longs for a family of her own with many children and a life in the country. Her friend Gloria Perkins, the mayor's daughter, has completely different wishes. She doesn't love school either; but she dreams of a career in the theater and an audience at her feet. She recently got engaged to Bill Carter and now wants him to finally marry her. The young teacher takes courage and asks the mayor for his daughter's hand. Unfortunately, he meets him at the most inopportune moment, so that the mayor immediately turns him off.
The ambitious Gloria persuades her fiancé to flee to New York with her. Her father will then believe in a kidnapping and will soon change his attitude towards marriage. This plan comes in handy for Bill Carter, since a detective named Ellery King has been following him more or less inconspicuously for a few days, without being aware of what he might have done. When Hopsa learns that Bill and Gloria have disappeared to New York, she follows them without further ado.
In a conversation with the detective, Mayor Perkins learns why Bill Carter has been appointed: A distant rich relative has designated the teacher as her sole heir, but the will provided the clause that Bill Carter would only receive the inheritance if he Be a teetotaler. At this thought the mayor quickly changes his mind about the teacher; because a rich son-in-law would be all right for his daughter. He spontaneously decides to look for them in the big city. Ellery King wants to finish his job successfully and accompanies the mayor.
Chance brings everyone who left Wiggletown yesterday back together in New York's Roxytheater. A new revue is being rehearsed there, and a few roles are still to be filled, including that of the leading actress. Gloria Perkins is disappointed to find that the road to success is paved with big stones; because she only gets an insignificant supporting role. On the other hand, great luck beckons Hopsa. Director JGB Brown hears the girl singing a popular folk song while dancing and immediately falls in love with her. In her he thinks he has found his perfect leading actress, which is why he spontaneously offers her the role, much to the chagrin of her friend.
Second part
Director Brown has not regretted having cast the sweet Hopsa from the provinces with the lead role; because at the rehearsals the girl cuts a fine figure both as a singer and as a dancer. Brown's heart is completely on fire for her. However, his efforts to approach the girl as a private person are doomed to failure.
Bill Carter and Ellery King meet in a bar. The teacher believes that his future father-in-law sent the detective to arrest him as a kidnapper. When the detective wants to buy him a drink, he firmly refuses. So he unconsciously proved his abstinence and showed himself to be worthy of an inheritance.
On the night of the premiere, Bill Carter meets the director of the revue in the theater and raves about the magical leading actress in the brightest tones. Brown seizes jealousy. He furiously urges the young man not to stand in the way of Hopsa's career. He also manages to convince the astonished Bill that this is the best thing for Hopsa. But before he starts his journey home to Wiggletown, he quickly writes Hopsa a farewell letter.
Hopsa is about to make her first appearance when she reaches Bill's letter. Between the lines she reads that he has meanwhile become indifferent to Gloria and that his heart actually belongs to her. She forgets her appearance, leaves the theater and goes in search of Bill. When she enters his room at the boarding house, old Perkins and Ellery King stare at her in amazement. She sees her lover herself lying asleep on the couch. When he saw the mayor approaching him with the detective in the theater, he fled over the fire escape, injured himself in the process and therefore took a strong painkiller that put him to sleep. Hopsa now believes that Bill is finally lost to her. She quickly returns to the theater to play her role. But it is too late for that now. The performance is already underway and Gloria has taken on her part. She, who had speculated on this role from the start and secretly rehearsed it, took advantage of this unique opportunity. In doing so, she can prove that she has just as much talent as Hopsa, who is so highly favored by the great JGB Brown. The performance turns out to be a great success. A new star in the show sky is born.
Hopsa returns to Wiggletown with her Bill. Thanks to his inheritance, he can now fulfill her childhood dream: the two of them buy a farm, and after only nine months the first child will be in the cradle.
music
Especially in the new version of 1957, the composer brought his operetta closer to the musical by incorporating the modern dance rhythms that spilled over from America to Europe into his score. This is of particular benefit to the work, especially since its location is not in old Europe, but in the new world. The following musical highlights are highlighted:
- Everyone has their dreams (duet)
- Who Was Columbus (Ensemble)
- Mary Miller is a girl (ensemble)
- You i love you (blues)
- Hopsa, that's a girl with music
- I don't ask if you have any money (slow waltz)
- The song from nigger Jim