Olivette

by Henri Charles Chivat

Genre: Romance
Setting:
Format of Original Source: Plot summary
Recommended Adaptation Length: 60 Minutes

Candidate for Adaptation? Not Likely

EXCERPT:

Following the English version of the opera, at the opening of the first act the villagers of Perpignan are greatly excited over the approaching marriage of Olivette, the Seneschal’s daughter, and De Mérimac, an old sea-captain. Olivette, however, just out of a convent, is in love with Valentine, a young officer and the Captain’s nephew. In the mean time the Countess of Rousillon is also in love with Valentine and has come to Perpignan to see him. She is at the house of the Seneschal, and is surprised there by Valentine, who has climbed her balcony expecting to find Olivette. The old Captain, who is making slow progress with his suit, writes to the Countess demanding Olivette’s hand. Valentine seizes his opportunity, passes himself off as the Captain, and marries Olivette at the request of the Countess herself.

COMMENTS:

Old-fashioned, but some good stage mechanics (the lead guy disguised at one point as three separate people — reminiscent of some Danny Kaye movies). There might be a rollicking reboot to be discovered in this old creaky thing, but it would probably need to be admittedly old and creaky, unless you could find a framework like The Drowsy Chaperone which could set up a context for the old-world plotting.

A word of caution: This plot summary was written by 19th-century literary critic George Upton, who often mixes personal opinion with summation. You would be advised to consult the original source material, if the general plot appeals to you.

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