Synopsis
La Fille du Régiment, comedy in two acts, takes place in the Swiss Tyrol at the time of the Napoleonic Wars, circa 1805.
Act I
A Tyrolean mountain pass.
A battle is taking place in the vicinity. The villagers of a border town, frightened, sing a prayer to the Virgin Mary so that peace will come soon. The war is ending in the region in which Napoleon has occupied, and the French have just won. Among the refugees is the Marquise de Berkenfeld, who remains fearful that the latest fighting would affect her personal safety as well as her property. Her faithful servant Hortensius tries to reassure her that everything will end well. The regiment, under the command of sergeant Sulpice, arrives and confirms that the war is over and peace will soon reign in the region. With Sulpice comes Marie, who as a young orphan years ago was taken up and adopted by the soldiers, has grown to become the vivandière (also: cantinière or canteen keeper), who by all rights is truly, and endearingly, the daughter of the regiment. Having been brought up by soldiers during war time, Marie has an eclectic, if not dubious, education, and at times exhibits un-lady like manners. Despite her manners, Marie’s buoyant sprit is an inspiration to the regiment, and often leads the soldiers enthusiastically in song. Marie confides in Sulpice that she recently met a young man who saved her life in a ravine, and she has fallen in love with him. The soldiers bring in a villager who was roaming the area and Marie recognises him: it is Tonio, the Tyrolean young man who saved her life. However, the entire regiment believes to have the right to prevent the marriage of Marie if the candidate is not considered worthy. After some discussion, Tonio is released but he does not miss the opportunity to remain alone with Marie to declare his love. The Marquise de Berkenfield appears again and informs Sulpice she is looking for the daughter of her sister, who was born due to an affair “her sister” had with Captain Robert, a soldier from the regiment. The alleged niece turns out to be Marie, who is in fact the daughter of the Marquise. When Tonio seeks permission to court Marie the soldiers deny it, claiming she belongs to the regiment and can only be courted by a fellow soldier. Tonio decides to join the regiment and celebrates being able to be a soldier and husband. Soon,Sulpice advises Tonio that Marie is to be surrendered to her aunt, the Marquise. Marie is forced to go live in the castle of the Marquise de Berkenfield, where she will receive an adequate education, befitting her new social hierarchy. Marie sings a moving farewell and makes it evident that Tonio has joined the regiment, regrettably, in vain.
Act II
A hall in the palace of the Marquise de Berkenfield.
The Marquise strives to educate Marie so that she can marry an aristocrat, the son of the Duchess of Krackenthorp. In the pursuit of this seemingly impossible task, the Marquise tries to teach Marie to sing a refined classic “romanza”, but Marie is distracted by sounds of the military, and Sulpice, who is visiting to see the progress of Marie, ends up joining her in singing the rhythm of an infectious Rataplan, Rataplan. Afterwards, alone, Marie reflects on her miserable condition. Tonio and the other soldiers of the regiment arrive to supposedly attend Marie’s wedding. Everything turns joyful when Marie sings with them a passionate and patriotic song, “Salut a la France” followed by a gracious ensemble in which Marie, Tonio, and Sulpice express their joy of being back together. Tonio confesses his love for Marie to the Marquise and tells her it was out of his love for her that he became a soldier. He asks for Marie’s hand in marriage, but the Marquise refuses and coldly asks him to leave. Following, the Marquise secretly confesses to Sulpice that she is Marie’s real mother, and in order to conceal her conceiving a child out of wedlock, she pretended to be her aunt. The intolerable Duchess of Krackenthorp arrives with her guests to get the marriage contract signed in the name of her son. Tonio and the regiment arrive again, determined to prevent the ceremony. They horrify the Duchess of Krackenthorp and her guests by telling them Marie was the vivandière and daughter of the regiment. Marie expresses her loyalty and affection for the regiment. The Marquise, genuinely moved, stops the wedding and gives Marie to Tonio, her true love. To celebrate the happy ending, Marie, Tonio, the regiment and all once again sing the patriotic “Salut a la France”.
