Both the libretto and musical style of the operetta "The King's Lodge" reflect the classical and 20th century characteristics of this genre. middle traditions. Here is the king's court and a fictitious monarchy, dressing up and miscommunication, a couple of lovers, a couple of character entertainers, and everything is crowned by music that intertwines Parisian songs, the good old Viennese waltz and fiery Latin American melodies.
The director of the operetta, Kęstutis S. Jakštas, says that its plot seems carefree fun only at first glance, but it talks about eternal things - love and betrayal, true and false values. What's more, the public social beginning, the superficiality of political structures, and careerism are evident here. And although the story is old, it is clear that nothing has changed - it is very difficult for a person with a natural conscience to fit in this world, he is considered an outsider in the society of adaptors and careerists. Nevertheless, this kind of person is the happiest, because only he is the engine of human progress.
However, this is an operetta, and all power here is love...
First picture
Disillusioned with life, Jean prepares to commit suicide in a Paris park. At the last moment, he is saved from death by the Inspector - a mysterious figure - who offers him death, but for it Jean would receive 10,000 dollars! The chance of survival is one in a thousand. Jean accepts the offer and a $5,000 advance. The inspector keeps all the circumstances secret.
Second picture
Jean and the inspector appear in one South American country, where they are eagerly awaited by the Regent - the Prime Minister, the man who directs the state's policy. The prime minister explains what task awaits him: Žan will have to go to the opera house in the evening to see the performance of "Aida". Jean bears a striking resemblance to the country's monarch Antonius III. It is known that an attempt will be made today at the opera during the gala performance of Antonio III by the supporters of Cyril IV, the pretender to the throne. A coup cannot be avoided, but the king's death can be avoided by using a second-in-command.
Before Jean has time to consider the situation, he is already performing his first royal duties: when the prima donna Carmencilla arrives, who is the official mistress of Antonio III, Jean has to play the role of the monarch in love. Carmencilla wants to make sure that the king will applaud her in "Aida" today, while the Prime Minister rejoices. Jean is so like the monarch that even his mistress does not recognize the deception. Every year on the anniversary of the Battle of the Delta (and today is the fifth anniversary), the king is assassinated in a gala performance at the Theater, but every year the king survives because his second-in-command is shot. Jean, hearing about this, wants to leave - returns the advance, asks for a car to the airport, but the Prime Minister knows how to stop him: he shows Jean a portrait of the Queen, with whom he will go to the opera. Jean falls in love at first sight and announces that he is staying. However, the Minister warns not to dream too much. Although the queen will not know that she is not going to the performance with her husband, but with his deputy, the relationship between the spouses has been so cold for a long time that the hope of the nation to have an heir to the throne has long faded.
The third picture
Before leaving for the opera, there is a little social gathering at the royal palace. The real king arrives. He is very confused. The Prime Minister, who initially supported him as Jean, treats him lightly - mixes him with dirt. Lieutenant Vagaridan, caught in Jean's high spirits, promoted to general, demoted to cadet. Finally, the king steps back to observe his understudy's manners. Meanwhile, the ladies of the court have a problem: Queen Anne Clara refuses to go to the opera. She refuses to leave her boudoir - she says she doesn't feel well. The Prime Minister has to intervene - he succeeds in talking the Queen out of it. After a while, Monarch Jean appears in a great mood. It is true that when Jean arrives - as a king - the queen remains reserved and quickly loses her temper, but today the king is extremely kind to her, showers her with compliments, kisses her hands, arranges a dinner and... makes the degraded Vagaridan a marshal!
The fourth picture
The conspirators disperse around the Opera House. Conspirators are the same policemen who, unable to live on a policeman's salary, make extra money by participating in a conspiracy.
Jean, as Antony III, sits in the royal box with the queen. He is very scared, he tries to escape when the drums are playing in the orchestra, thinking that they are already shooting. But the Prime Minister mercilessly pushes him back: he is paid, let him bare his chest! After all, the attempt has to happen, tradition demands it. A sensation among the audience at the Opera is caused by the fact that the king demonstratively makes love to the queen and leaves the box with her at the time when Carmencilla is to sing her aria. This is understood as a deliberate insult and a sign of breaking up with the prima donna, and Jean only wants to flirt with the queen quietly, without witnesses. The queen is also willing to take this flirtation. An increasingly furious Prime Minister orders Jean to return to the lodge immediately, but Jean refuses. Even more: with the help of the marshal, who owes Jean his lightning-fast career, he sends the Prime Minister out of the theater and orders a dinner for two to be prepared in the Queen's suite. And breakfast! He and the queen will return to the palace on foot like common people.
The fifth picture
The behavior of the king and queen turns all traditions upside down. The conspirators sell their props—trinkets, guns, dynamite—and call a strike. Carmencila is going mad with despair and anger, and the table is already set for two at the palace in Ana Clara's apartment. Jean puts a marshal on duty: he will be personally responsible to ensure that no one disturbs them. From the balcony, Jean enthusiastically addresses the cheering crowd with a short speech about the king's behavior today and answers the crowd's question about the heir to the throne. He announces an amnesty, promises the prima donna a large pension and solemnly promises to try to extend the dynasty. The crowd goes wild! The queen confesses her love for Jean - he awakened her heart, which had been dormant for years! She will be waiting for him in the bedroom... Unfortunately, taking advantage of Jean's temporary absence, the King, the Prime Minister and the Inspector arrive. Marshal Vagaridan, who comes to see what is going on, is dismissed and retired by the enraged king. The real king, agitated by the whole situation, the mood of the crowd and the queen, decides to cut ties with Carmencila for good. He says he will love the queen and goes to her bedchamber, where he is still waiting. What does Jean do? He learns that the king has won. He has already done - and successfully done - his duty. He receives a check from the Prime Minister, the plane is waiting at the airport. Jean, disappointed and unhappy, goes to put on his old clothes. A furious Carmencilla runs in. She declares that she is now—seduced and abandoned—joining the revolution that has just begun! Jean, as king, ordered the release of all the prisoners, and so were the bitter opponents of Antonio III, who now march into the palace with Cyril IV's name on their lips. The Prime Minister and the Inspector intend to flee to Paris. They will prepare a plane for the king and queen as well, but for now they are not hindered - the issue of the heir to the throne is being decided at the moment! Jean does not go to the airport alone. But what is it? Will the Queen fly to Paris with him? No, not the queen. It turns out that in the opera, the queen also had her second-in-command - the Parisian Madeleine. It was with her, not with the Queen, that he spent this wonderful evening, and with her he is now happily returning to Europe.
