''Bezauberndes Fräulein'' (''The Charming Young Lady'') is a

musical comedy Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement ...

in four scenes, similar in style to an operetta.

Ralph Benatzky Ralph Benatzky (5 June 1884 – 16 October 1957), born in Mährisch Budwitz ( Moravské Budějovice) as Rudolph Franz rantišekJosef Benatzky, was an Austrian composer of Moravian origin. He composed operas and operettas, such as '' Casanova ...

wrote both music and libretto, inspired by the French farce ''La petite chocolatière'' by

Paul Gavault Paul Armand Marcel Gavault (1 September 1866 - 25 December 1951) was a French dramatist, playwright and former director of the théâtre de l'Odéon. Biography He enjoyed a hit with his 1906 comic play '' Mademoiselle Josette, My Woman'' whi ...

. The work premiered on 24 May 1933, in the Volkstheater in Vienna, Austria.

Roles

The cast does not require operatic voices, just singing actors.

Scoring

The required orchestra comprises piano, flute, oboe, two clarinets, two trumpets, bassoon, three saxophones, banjo, guitar, percussion and strings. Alternatively, the instrumental music has also been arranged for two pianos.

Synopsis

Setting

The piece is set in an unnamed German-speaking city in the early 1930s. In modern performances, it is normally set in the present.

First scene

''Setting: Living area in Paul's weekend house'' Slightly overstretched painter Felix and his favourite model Rosette are visiting the weekend house of their friend Paul, a high-ranking civil servant. They want to retire to sleep immediately after their last hand of

bridge A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or rail) without blocking the way underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, which is usually somethi ...

, but Paul is full of anticipation for the coming day. For the first time, his boss has indicated he will visit on Sunday, as he now knows that his daughter Louise has secretly become engaged to Paul. Louise's visit is also anticipated. Felix and Rosette know Louise and find her rather boring, and also nothing special to look at. They therefore contemplate how to break off Paul's engagement to Louise. In the middle of the night, a solution presents itself: the doorbell rings. Felix opens the door and is overcome by the beautiful form of the young lady standing in front of him. She has a flat tyre and is requesting help. While Paul reacts unhelpfully, Felix accompanies the "charming lady" to her car and acts as if to help. She is not interested and converses with her chauffeur, so he slashes the tyre and makes the flat tyre worse. Annette, the young lady, must be offered a bed for the night in Paul's house. The chauffeur sets out with Paul's housekeeper Julie on foot, to inform Annette's father what has happened. All others go to bed.

Second scene

''Setting: Living area in Paul's weekend house'' A new day has started. Paul does everything he can to get rid of Annette, but the more he talks to her, the more attracted she seems to become to him. She wants to wait in peace until she is picked up by her father, the prosperous "Chocolate King". When the doorbell rings, Paul hopes she will immediately be gone; instead of Annette's father, Paul's boss and his daughter Louise enter the house. They are both outraged to find an unknown woman there in a

negligee The negligee or ''négligée'' (french: négligé ; ), also known in French as déshabillé (), is a form of see-through clothing for women consisting of a sheer, usually long, dressing gown. It is a form of nightgown intended for wear at night ...

, and leave the house within minutes. Paul is totally bemused, while Felix is quite satisfied with proceedings. This doesn't last, as the "Chocolate King" enters, but not alone, rather with Annette's fiancé Hektor in tow. Annette awaits accusations and blame, but Hektor appears quite relaxed — no word of reproach passes his lips. Now Annette is angry; she can't stand Hektor's passivity and ends the engagement on the spot. Felix's plan appears to be working.

Third scene

''Setting: Office in the Ministry'' Felix has arranged for Annette to visit Paul during his lunch break in his office. Paul, shy to a fault, doesn't know how to deal with the situation. Annette kisses Paul just as Paul's boss enters the room. The boss is furious, having depended on Paul as a right-hand man for many years and hoping to welcome him as a son-in-law. Paul realises that Felix is behind the situation. While just a moment before, he wasn't sure whether he should perhaps court Annette, now it is clear: Annette must be removed from his life.

Fourth scene

''Setting: By a river'' While entertaining thoughts of the "charming lady", Paul is also beset by an urge to throw himself into the river and end his life. Suddenly he notices a woman in a simple dress, the uniform of the Salvation Army, approaching him. As she nears him, he realises it is Annette. His heart beats wildly. Annette offers that for him, she would sacrifice all her riches. Paul abandons his morose thoughts and takes her in his arms. Two men are watching, concealed: the "chocolate king" and Felix; they have successfully pulled the necessary strings to reach the happy ending.

Musical highlights

Paul's Song "''Ach Louise, kein Mädchen ist wie diese!''" ("Ah Louise, unlike any other girl!") Felix' Couplet "''Hokuspokus fidibus''" ("Hocus Pocus of Faiths") Paul's Song "''Was hast du schon davon, wenn ich dich liebe?''" ("What is it to you, if I'm in love?") Annette and Paul,

tango Tango is a partner dance and social dance that originated in the 1880s along the Río de la Plata, the natural border between Argentina and Uruguay. The tango was born in the impoverished port areas of these countries as the result of a combina ...

, "''Sie kommen zum Tee!''" ("They're coming to tea!") Annette's father, Felix, Chauffeur, Paul, Annette "''Bezauberndes Fräulein / Ja, was ist denn heute los mit mir?''“ ("Charming lady / Yes, what's wrong with me today?")

Film adaptations

The musical comedy was filmed in 1953 under the direction of

Georg Thomalla Georg Thomalla (14 February 1915 – 25 August 1999) was a German actor. He appeared in about one hundred fifty film and television productions between 1939 and 2000 and was widely known in Germany for his comedic roles. Thomalla was well k ...

. The director played the male lead himself. Other cast members included Ingrid Andree,

Herta Staal Herta Staal (29 March 1930 – 2 October 2021) was an Austrian film and television actress. Selected filmography * '' The Charming Young Lady'' (1953) * '' The Dancing Heart'' (1953) * '' My Sister and I'' (1954) * ''Clivia'' (1954) * ''The Gre ...

Gisela Fackeldey Gisela Fackeldey (13 November 1920 – 21 October 1986) was a German actress. She appeared in more than 45 films and television shows between 1949 and 1986. Selected filmography * '' Who Is This That I Love?'' (1950) * '' Kissing Is No Sin' ...

and

Karl Schönböck Karl Schönböck (4 February 1909 in Vienna – 24 March 2001 in Munich) was an Austrian actor.