Coffee Cantata / Serva Pedrona

VisitSchlendrian Caffee

in the lobby

Freshly brewed coffeeTea Water

Wine Cookies

Bel Cantanti Opera

presents

G. Massenet Cinderella (Cendrillon)

Friday, October 24, 7:30pmSunday, October 26, 3:00pm

Saturday, November 1, 7:30pm

Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington

6125 Montrose Rd, Rockville, MD 20852

E. Kalman The Princess of Gsardas

Friday, December 19, 7:30pmSunday, December 21, 3:00pm

Randolph Road Theater4010 Randolph Rd, Silver Spring,

MD

Bel Cantanti Opera

presents

G. Massenet Cinderella (Cendrillon)

Friday, October 24, 7:30pmSunday, October 26, 3:00pm

Saturday, November 1, 7:30pm

Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington

6125 Montrose Rd, Rockville, MD 20852

E. Kalman The Princess of Gsardas

Friday, December 19, 7:30pmSunday, December 21, 3:00pm

Randolph Road Theater4010 Randolph Rd, Silver Spring,

MD

Bel Cantanti Operapresents

Schlendrian:

Francois Loup

Lieschen:

Megan McCall

Narrator:

Andrew Hann

Coffee Cantata

Keep quiet, don’t chatter,

and listen:

Here comes Herr Schlendrian

with his daughter Lieschen

He’s growling like a bear -hear for

yourselves what she has done to him.

Children are nothing

but trouble!

Everything I say to my daughter

Lieschengoes in one ear

and out the other.

You bad daughter, you

wild girl!

Oh, if only I could have my

way -to get rid of

coffee!

Father, don’t be so hard!

If I can't drink my little cup

of coffee three times a day

I‘ll shrivel up and die!

Ah! how sweet coffee tastes!

Lovelier than a thousand kisses,smoother than muscatel wine.

Coffee, I must have coffee.

And if anyone wants

to give me a treat,

just give me some coffee!

If you don’t give up coffee, you

won’t be going to any weddings

and you won’t go out walking

either.

Alright then!Just leave me my

coffee!

I’ll get the little minx now.

I won’t buy you the latest fashions.

I can easily do without that.

You’re not to stand at the

windowand you won’t

see anyone going by!

I don’t mind that either.

But please, I beg you,

just let me keep my coffee!

What’s more you won’t get from meany silver or gold

ribbons to put on your

bonnet!

That’s fine! Just leave me my

pleasure!

You’re impossible, Lieschen!

You would give up everything

I say?

Girls are so stubborn once

they've made up their minds about

something.

But if you hit the right spot,

oh then you’re in luck.

Now follow what your father

says!

In everything else, but not

coffee.

Well then! You must get

used to the ideathat you won’t have a husband

either.

Oh yes! Father, a husband!

I swear, that won’t happen.

Until I give up coffee?

Right! Coffee, remain forever

untouched.

Father, listen, I won’t drink any

at all.

Then you’ll have a husband!

This very day, dear father, do it now!

Ah, a husband!That’s just right

for me!

If only it could happen at once,so that at last

instead of coffee…

…before I go to bed

I could get a lusty lover!

This very day, dear father, do it now!

Ah, a husband!That’s just right

for me!

Now old Schlendrian goes

off and looks out

for his daughter Lieschen…

to see if he can get her

a husband soon.

But Lieschen lets it be

secretly known:

No suitor of mine should come to

the houseunless he himself has promised…

…and it is written also in the marriage contract…

…that I shall be permitted

to make coffee whenever I want.

The cat will always chase

mice,and young ladies

will remain addicted to

coffee.

The mother loves her cup of coffee,the grandmother

drinks it too.

Who can blame the daughters!

The End

THE

END

VisitSchlendrian Caffee

in the lobby

Freshly brewed coffeeTea Water

Wine Cookies

14595857565554535251504948474645444342414039383736353433323130292827262524232221201918171615141312111009080706050403020100Countdown ClockBy Dr. Jeff Ertzberger















Bel Cantanti Opera

presents

Serpina:

Megan McCall

Uberto:

Andrew Potter

Vespone:

Andrew Hann

La Serva Padrona

The Servant Mistress

To wait and not to come,

to be in bed and not to sleep,

to serve and not to please…

Isn’t it enough to make one die?

It is a disgrace to me.

I wait for three hours,

and my servant does not care

to bring my chocolate

while I am in a hurry to go out.

Serpina!

She's coming tomorrow.

What do you have to say

for yourself? Fool!

Go break your neck.

Make haste, see what she's doing.

Have you finished?

You dare to scold me?

Brava!

Come back! I'm not in a hurry

even if the master is.

Bravissima!

You really try my patience.

I'll teach you a lesson!

Stop! What's the

matter with you? Serpina!

Let me teach that rascal

some manners.

But in the master's

presence?

Just because I am a servant, must I be

overburdened? Must I be

maltreated? No, sir.

I want to be respected, I want to be revered, as if I were mistress,

head mistress, the highest of mistresses!

What in the devil is the matter with

you, Your Excellence? Let's hear it. What was the

trouble?

That impertinent fellow…

Him?

"Come to me..."

He said that?

And in such an improper way!

He did? Curse you!

But he'll pay for it.

I sent him to you.

What for?

What for? Didn't I ask you

for chocolate?

So?

Must I die waiting for you to bring it

to me?

And when do you want it?

When? Now.

Now? It's almost lunchtime.

So?

So I won't make it. You can do

without it, dear sir. And you’ll

keep quiet about it, too.

Vespone, since it seems I have

already had my hot chocolate,

can you wish me "Bon Apetit"?

What is the fool laughing at?

At me, who has more patience than a beast of

burden.

But I will not be a beast,

I will not be patient.

I'll shake off the yoke,

and I’ll do what I have never done

before!

I am ever quarrelling with you, here and

there, and up and down, and yes

and no.

Now it's enough! Now it must end!

But what do you think?

That I will drop dead for her?

No, my good sir, no.

I am ever quarrelling with

you...Now it's enough!

Now it must end...

But what do you think?

That I will drop dead for her?

No, my good sir, no...

You shall weep at your disgrace, and then you'll

realize how good you had it here.

What do you say? Is it not so? Ah!

No! But so it goes!

Must I be insulted

for waiting on you?

Do you hear her?

You are making fun of me.

I am going to get angry.

Don't be angry. You are right.

You don't know what to say?

Go and get me my hat

and my scarf. I want to go out.

That's not a good idea.

Why do you have to interfere with

my business?

I don't want you to go out now.

It is noon. Where do you want to go?

Go and undress.

Oh what great misery

you cause me...

That's all I needed to hear.

You are not going anywhere.

I'm locking the door.

But this seems to me

the greatest impertinence.

Well then, keep ringing.

Serpina, do you know that you make my head

split?

My poor little man,

you play the proud one,

but it won't help you any.

You must remain quiet

when I say so and not speak.

Serpina wants it so!

I believe you understand me,

for you have known me

for a long time.

My poor little man,

you play the proud one,

but it won't help you any.

You must remain quiet

when I say so and not speak.

Serpina wants it so!

Very well. Did you

understand?

Now go put everything

back in its place. My mistress

doesn't want me to go out.

Indeed.

Go, child.

You mean wife.

O stars! O fate! This is death for

me.

Dead or alive, this must be.

I have made up my mind.

Oh, she's a devil.

I know it by your eyes,

your roguish, wicked eyes. You say no,

but you really mean yes.

Young lady, you're mistaken. You fly too high. My eyes and I say

no. And this yes is but a dream.

But why? Am I not pretty,

graceful and vivacious?

Just look what grace, see what

spirit, what majesty.

(There she goes, tempting me.)

(He's going to fall.)

Let's do it, sir.

Go away.

Make up your mind.

You're mad.

My affections are for you,

and you must marry me.

Oh, what troubles I have!

Now that you have gone over to my side, use all your talents,

Vespone.

If our deceit has its effect,

if I become the master's wife,

you ask anything of me

and you shall have it.

You'll be the second master, I promise you.

(Go hide now. Come out when

it's time.)

Wha… what is happening?

I have found a husband.

May you have good luck.

And did you find him

as quickly as you said it?

The sooner the better.

Good! May I know who he is?

He was in the army.

That's fine. What's his name?

Captain Storm.

What an ugly name.

And his character matches the name. He is a little moody.

That's bad.

Or rather, he's a lunatic.

Still worse.

He is quick to anger.

That's dreadful.

And when he is angry

he ruins things, he throws them

across the room, he destroys everything.

You won't like that,

your ladyship.

Why not?

If you're so capricious as a

servant, imagine what

you'll be like as a wife.

Without doubt Captain Storm will get angry,

and there will be beatings.

I will think about that later.

I'll be sorry to see that.

After all, I am rather fond of

you.

Much obliged.

In the meantime, take good care of

yourself.

And don't forget Serpina.

May heaven forgive you

for having been so haughty.

Think sometimes of Serpina.

Some day you will say...

Ah, poor thing!

She once was dear to me.

(It seems to me that gradually he is starting to

soften.)

And if I was impertinent, forgive me.

I behaved wickedly,

and now I see it.

(He is holding my hand.

It couldn't be better.)

Do you want to meet

my husband?

Go.

With your permission.

What confusion!

I am all perplexed.

I have something in my heart, I don't know what: love or

pity...

I feel something that says:

“Uberto, think of yourself.”

I hesitate between yes and

no, between wanting and not

wanting.

And I grow more and more perplexed.

Ah, unhappy, wretched am I,

what will become of me!

I am all perplexed.

I have something in my heart, I don't know what: love or

pity...

I feel something that says:

“Uberto, think of yourself.”

After you, sir.

Mistress, is it he?

It is he.

(Oh, how hideous!

He really has a tempestuous

face!)

And so, dear Captain Storm,

you will marry my girl?

Good.

Are you happy?

Good.

Or is there some difficulty?

Good.

He seems to have very little

to say.

Very little.

Do you want me to…

with your permission.

(And must my little dove go

into the arms of this hideous simpleton?)

So you know what he said?

Tell me, Serpina.

That he wants you to give me

my dowry.

Your dowry? What dowry?

Are you insane?

Don't scream or he'll get angry.

(Well, let's see what he'll do to

me.)

What does he say?

That he wants at least $4,000.

The devil! Oh, that's fine!

He wants a trifle!

Ah, my good sir...

Serpina... the devil take her!

Vespone… where are you?

But sir, you are looking

for trouble.

Listen. Have you made any

agreement with him?

I have… and I have not.Hold on…

(It remains to be seen

how this accursed captain will rush at me.)

He said...

What did he say?(…through his interpreter.)

That either you give me

a dowry of $14,000,

or he won't marry me.

Did he say so?

He said so.

And what do I care

if he doesn't marry you?

But then you'll have

to marry me.

He said so?

He said so, or else he'll cut you to pieces.

Yes sir!Don't worry…

I will marry her.

Give me your right hand

in his presence.

Yes.

Long live the master.

This way?

And long live Vespone.

Ah, you rascal! Is it you?

Oh, such deceit... let me...

You needn't make such a fuss.

I am already your wife

and you know it.

It’s true, you got me.

And from servant I have become

mistress.

For you, I have in my heart

the little hammer of love,

beating forever.

I have in my heart for you

a little drum of love,

beating loudly.

Ah, listen to its hammering.

I hear it, it's true.

Listen to its drumming.

I hear it, it's true.

But what does it mean?

I do not know.

I do not know, either.

Dear husband!

Dear wife!

My darling!

Oh joy!

Will you be happy?

Will you love me?

I know my heart is happy.

And I will love you.

Tell the truth.

That is the truth.

Prove it.

Do not doubt it!

THE

END

The End

Entertainment & Humor

Coffee Cantata / Serva Pedrona