DETAILED SYNOPSIS

Note: Over the years many changes have been made to the original libretto. The synopsis below has a new version of the spoken dialog which has created by Artistic Director Jack Montgomery. While the basic plot remains the same, there are many differences in detail between this synopsis and those found elsewhere..

ACT I: The throne room of the Palace in the Kingdom of Flausenthurn
As members of the court waits for a bell to ring which will announce the end of the wedding ceremonies for the Princess Helena, they wonder about the groom. Chosen by the Princess, he is an unknown Lieutenant of the Viennese Green Hussars and isa stranger to all of them. (We are waiting for the bell.) Frederike, the Lady-in-waiting, tells Count Lothar and Major-domo Wendolyn how, when Princess Helena was in Vienna, she saw the carefree Hussar Nicholas (Niki), fell immediately in love, and asked to marry him. He agreed and thus is now a Prince. (The Brave Hussar)

The wedding party enters hailed by the court. (Oh happiness stupendous) King Joachim, who can be rather a fool, makes a speech, at first reading from the wrong scroll, beginning "Four score and ... " . Corrected by Lothar, he switches scrolls. He looks forward to the new Prince insuring the continuation of the dynasty. He then asks Niki to speak. The Hussar is reluctant; he does not like to give speeches and just wants to have fun. He continues by bemoaning his present marital bonds. He prefers waltzing, wine and song; love can not be bought. He was content with being a plain soldier and would rather not be a prince, a bird in a gilded cage. (Niki's Song)

Joachim does not get the message; he tells Niki he must greet his court. To the displeasure of Count Lothar the groom starts by thanking his fellow Viennese officers, asking them to greet everyone and everything in Vienna for him on their return home. He will keep fellow Lieutenant Montschi with him in Flausenthurn to help with entertainment. Joachim cuts him off; enough with the speeches, it is time for dynastic "business". All leave except for Niki, Lothar, Joachim and Helena. To Lothar's jealous dismay, Joachim appoints Niki to the Command of his Regimental Hussars instead of him.

Niki excuses himself "to change" thinking of donning his old Lieutenant uniform. Helena misinterprets, thinking he means nightwear and leaves herself. As the King and Lothar exit, Joachim recalls his own happy days in Vienna with its girl orchestras, especially one, the Prater Swallows .

Frederike and Helena, now in a peignoir, return. The Princess has never actually been alone with Niki but feels they will be happy. In a duet with Frederike, she realizes marriage isn't play, but she will love her husband and tame him so that one day his love for her will again make him free. (A Love of My Own)

After they leave, Niki and Montschi reappear. Montschi thinks his friend is really lucky to be a prince, but Niki is not so sure. They recall how Joachim and his daughter came to Vienna to meet the Emperor, and Niki was chosen to be their escort. He flirted with Helena just for fun, but soon he was called to the King's room where, to his surprise, he was welcomed as a son-in-law; two hours later he was released from the Austrian Army. He has been turned to a hero in a farce and has to escape!

Lothar appears and denounces Niki as a usurper. Niki welcomes this because, if many feel that way, he may be able to leave. He shocks Lothar by saying he intends to pursue wine and women and to create scandal. (It develops that Lothar has hoped to be the heir to the throne, but if Niki and Helena produce a son he will lose out.) Announcing that he is willing to die for his country but not love for it, Niki vows to force them to let him off. There shall be no wedding night and no heir! Although he is sorry for Helena, he won't be a party to the King's scheme.

As Montschi prepare to leave for an evening of enjoyment, the King appears and tries to hurry Niki off to bed. Niki pretends to agree and bids Montschi good night. He then tells Joachim he has no talent for marriage and refuses to play the role assigned him. He was never consulted before being pushed into a wedding. As Joachim bemoans the fate of his five hundred year old dynasty, Frederike enters and is charged with telling Helena of Niki's decision. All express their feelings in a trio, and Niki leaves for a bit of "evening air". (Dynasty)

Discussing what must be done next, Lothar and Joachim leave. Montschi appears looking for his friend and is told by Frederike he is in the garden. An excited Niki reappears; he has heard the sound of real Viennese music from the garden. To the Waltz Dream theme, Niki and Montschi sing of the wonderful waltzes of home and love. (The Walzer Duet) The orchestra they heard is the same Prater-Swallows recalled by the King. They are touring the Eastern kingdoms and were brought to the local beer garden to celebrate the wedding. Montschi leaves, agreeing to meet Niki later at the beer garden where they will be just two lieutenants on a lark with no mention of the wedding.

ACT I Finale After they leave, Helena enters glad to find Niki alone (apparently she has not been told of his decision), and asks him if he loves her. All the time thinking of escaping, he temporizes, saying he is her husband so he must love her but tells her he is a Consort, merely, a puppet, and she should forget him, it was only a dream. After they leave, Frederike, Joachim and Lothar appear and bemoan the fate of their unlucky dynasty.

ACT II: A beer garden near the palace where the Prater Swallows are entertaining.
Urged by the crowd, the orchestra leader Franzi sings of music, love and laughter. (Marching Maidens, on we go.) Fifi, who plays the drum announces they will take a 20 minute break. Franzi has a date with a real Viennese hussar who is coming with a fellow officer. Annerl, a violinist, and Fifi argue about who will get the second man. Fifi is hungry so she and Annerl go off to eat while waiting for the officers. Montschi arrives and introduced Niki who is immediately attracted to Franzi. Montschi follows the other girls, leaving Niki and Franzi to discuss their homesickness for Vienna. Without revealing why, Niki says he might have to stay here quite a long time. When he tries to embrace her, Franzi resists and, in a duet, he continues to try to entice her while she continues to resist. She finally gives in, and they kiss and dance off. (Come hither my dear little maiden.)

Dressed as peasants, Lothar and Joachim enter looking for Niki in order to arrest him; then Lothar can replace him on the throne. Joachim objects that Princess Helena won't like that, but Lothar is confident; they will unmask Niki tonight, annul the marriage, and toss him over the border. Joachim warns they must avoid scandal. They meet Fifi and Annerl from whom they learn that Fifi is having supper with a Viennese lieutenant who is here for the wedding. To the tempo of a march, the girls introduce themselves and sing of making music. (If you'd greet us, now you meet us.) (The instruments the others play are: Resi - bassoon, Pepi - clarinet, Mizzi - double bass, Lizzi - cello, Fritzi - harmonium*, Minna - violin.)

At the end they disperse. Helena and Frederike enter looking for Niki. Lothar has told her he would ask for an annulment. Frederike tells her that the Count would do anything for a throne; she should not give up quite yet. Helena wishes she could act like a Viennese woman not just a cold princess. Franzi appears and on being questioned confirms she is a genuine Viennese woman; she knows just how to act so men fly to her as bees fly to honey. Helena asks why Viennese men are shy and blind to maidenly charms. The surprised Franzi responds that the men are hard of heart, love to flirt and entice girls, then run away. Its all a matter of Temperament. (Temperament)

Helena then asks Franzi if she can tell her the secret of winning a lover, and she gives a short demonstration. Helena and Frederike leave to continue their search for Niki. Montschi appears and tells Franzi she can't play violin solos all of the time. Sometimes she need to plays duets, and he plays the piccolo. They sing a duet about a violin who lost her beau and met a piccolo. (Piccolo)

Meanwhile Joachim and Fifi have been flirting. The guests call for the orchestra to play again. Montschi and Niki meet, and realize the King and Count Lothar are looking for them. They start to leave but are stopped.

ACT II Finale
Suddenly all are together: Niki and Montschi trying to get away; Frederike and Helena shocked to see her husband, who was so tired, at the beer garden; Joachim and Lothar berating Niki. Niki defends himself saying he was called by the sound of a waltz. Niki and Helena waltz and are interrupted by Franzi who leaves the orchestra to claim the Prince. The guests now recognize the royals and hail the Prince and Princess. (Like an enthralling magic it seems.) Sadly, Franzi realizes she can never have Niki.

ACT III The throne room of the palace.
The courtiers sing of the scandal at court: the Princess is disdained and the coat of arms stained, a playboy is on the throne, and every night a masked woman comes to court. Who can she be and whom does she come to see? Lothar and Wendolyn discuss sexual intrigue at the court. A bored Niki appears; he is confined to the palace and forced to appear as a loving husband, but he has nothing to do, and Helena is becoming more and more attentive. When he tells his wife they can't go on like this, she replies she has been trying to become a real Viennese bride and to give him freedom. When Niki realizes she means she'll let him go, he suddenly becomes more attracted to her. Saying they will remain good friends, he starts to go, turns and kisses her, and then quickly leaves. Helena exults to Frederike that she has won him using Viennese intrigue; it is time to spring their trap! Lothar overhears the end of their conversation and tries unsuccessfully to hide. He claims he is looking Frederike her, then confesses he is a spy trying to discover the identity of the masked lady. He thinks she is Niki's new mistress, but Frederike suggests she may be Joachim's little drummer Fifi.

Joachim and Niki enter. The king is berating Niki for his treatment of Helena. In responding he insults Lothar and angers him. Joachim tries to make peace but Lothar insists on accusing Niki of having assignations with the masked woman. In a trio the three continue to guess who she can be. She will be here soon and they will find out. (It's exciting, it's exquisite.) The men exit and Franzi, dressed as a court lady, and Frederike dressed as a band member, enter and discuss how to carry out their new roles with conviction. (Chambermaid and Dancing Girl) It seems Franzi is the masked woman who has been coaching Helena on how to be a true Viennese woman. Frederike leaves to give Helena further instructions on their plan, and Niki appears. He mistakes Franzi for Frederike and tries to charm information about the mysterious visitor from her. They are interrupted by Lothar who accuses Niki of trying to seduce a court lady. Niki once more insults him and leaves. The masked Frederike flirts with Joachim and they leave. Helena enters wearing a mask and looking for Franzi. Joachim comes in, mistakes HER for Fifi and makes advances to her. Frederike rushes on followed by Lothar. But now there are TWO masked ladies and confusion reigns. The men try to steal kisses but receive slaps from the women who run out followed by Joachim and Lothar.

Niki and Montschi enter discussing the masked woman. The Prince tell his friend that Helena has given him his freedom, but now he is confused. His wife has become a perfect Viennese woman and he is torn between Franzi and Helena. Maybe he is falling in love with his wife, and Franzi was just a Viennese dream, a waltz dream. Meanwhile the women of the orchestra have assembled and start to play.

Finale
Coming up to Niki, Helena takes off her mask and slowly they begin to waltz. Soon they are joined by Montschi and Franzi and all sing of love.

* A harmonium is like a small organ.

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Revised March 2009
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