THE DUCHESS OF DANTZIC Book & and Lyrics by Henry Hamilton. Music by Ivan Caryll Based on the play "Madame Sans Gêne" by Victorien Sardou Lyric Theatre, London - 17 October, 1903 Daly's Theatre, Broadway 16 January, 1905 (93 perfs) STORY A storm in a teacup is proverbially one that may safely be ignored by the wise, but there is no proverb that deals with storms in a washtub. Throughout the story these storms rage, and it is always the washtub that is in evidence, whether our Sans Gêne be in the Rue Royale as Catherine Upscher, or in the Palace of Fontainebleau as the Duchess of Dantzic. But then these were stormy, stirring times. In July, 1792, the King of Prussia and the Emperor of Austria were preparing for an invasion of France, relying on treason and internal dissension to open a passage for their troops to the capital. Louis XVI. was still nominally king ; but his bead, though adorned with a cap of liberty, was being clamoured for by a revolutionary mob. The king and emperor had threatened, Evie Greene as Catherine (known as Sans Gêne) in his bombastic manifesto, terrible and exemplary vengeance on Paris if the Tuileries -,were invaded or violated, or if any insult were offered to him or any member of the royal family. To this insolent challenge followed the revolt of the loth of August, and with the light-heartedness characteristic of the Parisian, a notice was stuck up on the ruins of the Bastille announcing that there would be "dancing nightly,"" among its ruins. The fortunes of men are lost and made in times of great social upheaval. Fresh standards of merit are set up, and every man is the creature of the hour. What wonder then that hope of advance and ambitious visions of the future are the topic among all the citizens that flock the Rue Royale. Among these comes Lieutenant Bonaparte, haggard, restless, out of humour with the world, contemptuous of the things that please the noisy throng, moving around that jovial spirit, Sans Gêne. Her lover is away at the attack on the Tuileries, and she, to relieve her mind of anxieties on his behalf, betakes herself vigorously to her washtub. Bonaparte's advent, rough though it is, is something in the nature of a relief. Besides, the lieutenant owes seventeen francs for washing, and although he may talk vaguely and as a visionary of the great things he will do and the important position he will hold, to a practical woman like Catherine Upscher talk like that doesn't pay bills. On the point, however, of demanding a settlement, she learns from him of his misfortunes, his poverty and his anxious support of an old mother. That settles the bill. Nay, more, the erstwhile stern creditor actually offers financial assistance. But Catherine, as a matter of principle keeps the bill. Scarcely has Napoleon left when a young noble, pursued by the mob, seeks and obtains refuge at the laundry, and is hidden by the intrepid laundress in her bedroom. Not a moment too soon. The mob rushes in, and with them Lefebvre. Has Catherine seen the hated aristocrat? Catherine has not. Papillon, a merry pedlar, who had assisted her in her humane efforts has also not seen him. Can he have got into Catherine's room? Catherine is indignant at the suggestion, but in order to convince the mob Lefebvre, her affianced husband, enters the room, and on his reappearance declares it to be empty. But when alone with Catherine he reproaches her bitterly for hiding a lover, and matters between the two appear to be critical. Overhearing the dispute, the refugee comes forward, and is able, with a few words, even at the risk of being captured, to clear the matter up between the lovers. And now, with Lefebvre as an ally, the Vicomte makes
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