The Moustache
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THE MOUSTACHE AN OPERA LIBRETTO AND MUSIC BY HOLLIS THOMS February 15, 2009, 4:00 pm St John's College, Annapolis, Maryland Francis Scott Key Auditorium A meeting between Cipriano Ferrandini and John Wilkes Booth and their plots to kill Abraham Lincoln St. John's College, Annapolis, Maryland Francis Scott Key Auditorium Sunday, February 15, 2009, 4:00 pm National Capital Area Chapter of the Fulbnght Association Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration The World Premiere of "The Moustache" an opera by Hollis Thorns Dr. Edward Papenfuse, Maryland State Archivist "Cipriano Ferrandini and the Baltimore Plot of 1861" Hollis Thorns, Composer, "Ferrandini, Booth and Foster" "The Moustache," an opera in six scenes: Setting: March 24,1865 Barber shop of Cipriano Ferrandini At the Bamum Hotel in Baltimore Scene 1: Choral singing "Do Not Weep" Scene 2: Cipriano Ferrandini, John Wilkes Booth, and Abigail Scene 3: Ferrandini and Booth discuss Baltimore Plot of 1861 Scene 4: Nightmare of John Wilkes Booth. Scene 5: Ferrandini, Booth and Abigail Scene 6: Choral singing "Do Not Weep" Conductor Jennifer Peterson John Wilkes Booth1. Jason Thorns Actor (Scene 4) Robert Williamson Abigail Treva Foss Thorns Cipriano Ferrandini Kristopher Jean Another Maid Jacqueline Thorns -2- Instrumental Ensemble: Violin Celeste Blase Cello Erin Espinosa Piccolo Pam Godfrey Clarinet William Welty Trumpet Susan Rider Horn Jonas Thorns Tuba Ronald Haney Guitar Allan Prather Piano EricApland Timpani Greg McDonald Percussion William Thomas Many thanks to Jim Dickey for contracting the instrumentalists for this performance. Summary of the Opera: The opera is in six scenes. It is the historically possible meeting on March 24, 1865 at the Bamum Hotel in Baltimore between Italian barber Cipriano Ferrandini (who was a central figure in the assassination plot to kill Lincoln on February 23, 1861 as he went through Baltimore on his way to be inaugurated) and actor John Wilkes Booth (who eventually killed Lincoln on April 14, 1865). Booth was at the Barnum Hotel, a sanctuary for Southern sympathizers, on March 24, 1865, waiting to meet with his co-conspirator friend, Sam Arnold. Arnold, however, went to the countryside that day and could not meet, so Booth left a message at Arnold's parents asking Sam to meet him at the Barnum when he got back. Arnold never came, and Booth returned to Washington the next day without seeing him. While waiting for Arnold, Booth gets his hair cut and moustache trimmed by the barber at the Barnum, Cipriano Ferrandini. During this encounter Ferrandini retells the story of the Baltimore Plot of 1861. Booth, having recently failed in his attempt on March 17,1865 to kidnap Lincoln, is inspired by Ferrandini's story to once again make a commitment to kill Lincoln. Abigail, one of the bar maids at the Barnum, becomes a love interest of Booth during this encounter with Ferrandini. In addition, throughout the opera, songs by Stephen Foster, the most popular composer of this time, are interspersed. Both Ferrandini and Booth had moustaches and Foster's song "If You've Only Got a Moustache" is the central song of the opera, hence the title of the opera, "The Moustache." -3- "The Moustache" Libretto and Music by Hollis Thorns Your head may be thick as a block, And empty as any football, (Copyright 2007) Oh! Your eyes may be green as the grass Your heart just as hard as a wall. The entire opera takes place in a barber shop. You take the advice that I give, You'll soon gain affection and cash, Scene 1: Choir sings "Do Not Weep" And will be all the rage with the girls, If you'll only get a moustache, Scene 2: Opening scene A moustache, a moustache, If you'll only get a moustache. (Music: Stephen Foster's songs "If You've Only Got a Moustache," and "We are Coming Father Abigail: There's one more verse... Abraam" in instrumental ensemble) Booth: No time, my beautiful Abigail. Booth: Mister Ferrandini... Ferrandini: You've got to go! Got to go! Ferrandini. Yes! Yes! Mister Booth. Booth: Come here quickly, give me a kiss... Booth: Shall I keep my moustache or cut it off? What do you think? What do you think? Ferrandini:...give me a kiss. Abigail: Oh, dearest John... Abigail: I will later. I will later. Ferrandini: It is up to you! Booth: Ah, later at dinner, then we'll kiss. Abigail: My handsome John... Abigail: Then we'll kiss! Then we'll kiss! Ferrandini: You're the customer! Ferrandini: Only a little kiss... Abigail: I love your moustache. Abigail: No! No! No! Ferrandini: She loves your baffi! Ferrandini: ...little kiss... Abigail: I love your baffi! Abigail: No! No! No! Booth: Baffi? Baffi! Ferrandini: baaare con la lingua? (a French kiss) Abigail: Listen...listen...listen... Abigail: No! No! No!...I'm saving my kisses for tonight! Abigail: (Sings Stephen Foster's song, Ferrandini: For whom? "If You've Only Got a Moustache," verses 1-3) Abigail:...saving my kisses... "Oh, all of you poor single men, Don't ever give up in despair. Booth: For me! For me! For there's always a chance while there's life To capture the hearts of the fair. Abigail: For dearest John! No matter what may be your age, You always may cut a fine dash, Ferrandini: Oh... You will suit all the girls to a hair If you've only got a moustache, Abigail: For dearest John! A moustache, a moustache If you'll only get a moustache..." Ferrandini: Oh! No matter for manners or style, Abigail: For dearest John! No matter for birth or for fame, All these used to have something to do Ferrandini: Him? With young ladies changing their name, There's no reason now to despond, Abigail: My love! Or go and do anything rash, For you'll do though you can't raise a cent, Booth: Me? If you'll only rase a moustache! A moustache, a moustache, Abigail: My love!...Yes, the famous actor! If you'll only raise a moustache. Ferrandini: I will cut his hair. I will cut his hair and trim his moustache! Magnified Abigail: Goodbye...Goodbye! -4- Abigail and Booth:... (Sing Stephen Foster's song, Come where my love lies dreaming, "Witt Thou Be Gone, Love?") Dreaming the happy hours away In visions bright redeeming Abigail (Juliet): Wilt thou be gone, wilt thou be gone, The fleeting joys of day; love, gone, love, from me? Stay! tis the Nightingale that Dreaming the happy hours away; sings in yonder tree. Deem not tis the Lark, love; day is Come where my love lies dreaming, not yet near-Believe me, tis the Nightingale whose Dreaming the happy hours away... song hath pierced thine ear. Wilt thou be gone, wilt thou be gone, love wilt thou be gone from me? Ferrandini: Ba da da...If you only had a moustache... Booth (Romeo): I must be gone, love, I must be gone from thee. Scene 3: Ferrandini and Booth and Baltimore Plot of 1861 Abigail (Juliet): Stay! Tis the Nightingale that sings in yonder tree. Wilt thou be gone, wilt thou be gone, love, Booth: Listen! Listen! gone, love from me... Ferrandini: Yes! Yes! Booth (Romeo): 'Tis not the Nightingale that sings in yonder tree.Tts the Lark in yonder tree... I must be Booth: I have come here for another reason, gone, love, gone, love, from thee. Mr. Ferrandini. Booth (Romeo): It is the Lark, the herald of the mom, Ferrandini: Why is that, Mr. Booth? love, no Nightingale. See! The clouds are bright'ning, the stars are growing pale-Day is on yon mountaintop Booth: Because, I have heard about you... that veils the eastern sky-l must be gone and live, love, when I was staying here at the Bamum last August. or stay, with thee and die... Ferrandini: About me? Abigail (Juliet): Wilt then be gone, love, wilt thou be gone from me! Booth: Yes, you and the infamous failed Baltimore Plot of'61. Ferrandini: Bravo! Bravo! Ferrandini: Non destare if can che dorme. Abigail: Don't be gone long, my love! Booth: What did you say? Booth: I wont, my dearest, my sweet.... I am only having my hair cut and my moustache .... Ferrandini: Let sleeping dogs lie. Abigail: My heart will break... Booth: Ah, yes... Ferrandini: Her heart will break! Ferrandini: Morto un papa, senefaun altro. Abigail: If I dont see you soon... Booth: In English, please? Booth: I will not be gone long from my love, Ferrandini: Life goes on....Hush!.. that is old news! am I right Mr. Ferrandini?... Booth: Not to me! Not to me! Ferrandini: Not long, not long...(referring to hair) Ferrandini: It happened four years ago, before his first Abigail: Oh, oh...Good bye, my love... inaugural. Booth: "Parting is such sweet sorrow..." Booth: Yes, I remember... Ferrandini: and how do you want your hair parted did Ferrandini: Now, he has had a second... you say? Four years under the tyrant! Four years in war! Booth: This way...this way (shows him)...and... Four years of invasion! I will keep my moustache. Four years of death and destruction! Ferrandini: Your baftT? Booth: But, tell me about it...I heard it was a great plot, a noble plot to save our nation before the tyrant was Booth: Yes, don't touch my baM crowned, before he was inaugurated! Ferrandini: Come, sit down....sit down...Come sit and Ferrandini: It was a great plot, a noble plot to save our dream....Dream of your love as I cut your hair and trim nation...But don't get me thinking about it again..