Madame Bovary (speaking to audience) Bonjour!! Welcome to my home! I am so happy to have this Christmas party for my artist friends. Tonight we will see the musician Chopin and his barely feminine companion Georges Sand. Also Hungarian piano composer Liszt, and writer Mme. Stael. I also invited dancing temptress Carmen…but I am pretty sure that was a bad idea. She would be my only competition for the heart of these creative men.
(knock at door)
Madame Bovary MY GUESTS!
(enter Chopin and Georges Sand)
Welcome, welcome, Chopin and Georges. This is my beautiful home. I am so glad that we are able to get together for Christmas. Let me show you this beautiful painting I have recently purchased.
Georges Sand Yes, I see the bright contrasting colors…
Chopin …and small brush strokes – much like Romantic painter Eugene Delacroix. Is it a Delacroix?
Madame Bovary (no hesitation) Yes of course! And I have new curtains on that window – only the finest fabric in France!
(knock at door) (Chopin and GS appear relieved to have MB walk away)
Madame Bovary Welcome, Liszt! Welcome, Mme. Stael! (obviously not happy about seeing Carmen) …..Carmen, hello.
Madame Bovary Mme. Stael, I just finished your latest book, and I was impressed by the French Romantic theme of fundamental solitariness of the intellectual woman.
Mme de Stael Thank you. (now addressing Carmen) Oh, Carmen…whatever happened to your friend Jose Navarro?
Madame Bovary Who? The robber she seduced?
Carmen (vaguely and slightly offended by MB) He was with me for a while…
Liszt (interrupting MB and Carmen) Bonjour, Madame Bouvarie! Where is your piano? I have composed a new song, and I would like to share it with Chopin.
Mme de Stael And I have been waiting to discuss politics and writing with Georges Sand!
George Sand Yes, Mme. Stael, I wanted to share with you my latest novel (interrupted)
Chopin Before we hear Liszt’s new song or listen to the ladies discuss literature, I think we should do something to honor the holiday….
Madame Bovary Oh, Chopin…what did you have in mind? (holding Chopin’s arm)
Carmen (holding Chopin’s other arm) A dance? I will be happy to dance with you Chopin… (Chopin coughs nervously)
George Sand (moving the women away from Chopin) Be careful…my dear Chopin is ill – listen to that cough…At least he will not die until after our affair is over. (interrupted)
Mme de Stael We should read a Christmas story…
George Sand I don’t understand why the savior is a man. I, like other French Romantic artists, believe in the independent, powerful woman. Besides, what man is capable of guiding others??
Mme de Stael You’re right Georges…just look at Napoleon! He thinks he can lead the country of France, if only I could run this country…
Liszt I think a song might be better. Chopin and I can come up with something…
Chopin Yes, we could do that.
Madame Bovary Chopin! I can help you. What do you need?
Carmen Chopin! Liszt! One of you can dance with me and the other can play with music. (dances) Because no dance is complete without a man. (Liszt looks interested…Chopin just looks scared)
Madame Bovary Or, you could dance with me, Chopin…
Chopin (coughing again and speaking nervously) No, no. If I was going to dance, I would be dancing with Georges.
(MB looks horrified at the thought of rejection and she moves away from Chopin)
Mme de Stael Georges and I can write the words to your song. We will make a romantic style ballad about Christmas. (GS and MS move to the side to begin writing)
Chopin A song that makes us all thing of our favorite winter place in nature.
Carmen French Romantic music makes me want to take time to myself and dance and enjoy nature
(Chopin and Liszt are discussing the music together)
(Carmen is showing MB some dance moves)
Liszt Finished!
Chopin (to the audience) This song Liszt has quickly composed is a challenge because my friend has such large hands (Liszt holds up hands) he can plan music with such a beautiful range on the piano.
George Sand I think we are ready to perform our Christmas song and dance.
(all characters move to a line…MB tries to stand with Chopin; GS shakes her head disapprovingly)
(All sing song we learned for the French 101 class. Carmen dances while they sing)
Madame Bovary (after song) Thank you all for coming to my beautiful home! I hope we can do this every Christmas!