Armidale Drama & Musical Society

The Gypsy Baron

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Armidale - April 1969

Stage Direction by Jim Graham

Musical Direction by Neville Meale

By Johann Strauss. By arrangement with Chappel & Co Ltd.

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SYNOPSIS

The play opens outside the home of Zsupan, Mayor of Zrinyi in Hungary. A band of gypsies who live nearby wish to see the mayor but are met first by Otto, the mayor's major-domo, who is in love with Arletta the mayor's daughter. Arletta however does not return his love. Mayor Zsupan appears and is told by the gypsies that their Queen Czipra wishes to see him. Czipra enters and complains to the mayor that the mayor's pigs roam over the gypsy encampment. The gypsies are guardians of this estate, it having been entrusted to them by the exiled overlord Feodor Barinkay. Zsupan is disdainful but is sobered somewhat by Czipra's warning that in a dream she saw Barinkay's son return to claim his lost estate. Zsupan is also troubled by his housekeeper Mirabella who wishes to marry him.

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More trouble is in store for a special Commissioner, Count Kareska arrives from Vienna with news that the exiled Count is now dead but that his son Sandor is due to arrive soon to claim the estate and castle. Kareska also reveals that the castle contains a great treasure hidden there many years ago and that the young heir is as yet ignorant of this fact. They concoct a plan to get their hands on the treasure but this plan depends upon Arletta marrying Barinkay.

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Barinkay arrives and although Arletta is thrust at him by her father, he declines the offer. Instead his eye falls upon Saffi the grand-daughter of Czipra. He proposes marriage to her and she accepts. Czipra then reveals that she too knows of the existence of the treasure and that she alone knows its whereabouts. The treasure is then produced and Barinkay promises his gypsy friends a share in his new found wealth.

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The general excitement is interrupted by the arrival of recruiting officers whose aim is to gain solders to fight in a war which has again broken out against the Turks. The gypsy men are enlisted along with the mayor and Otto. Barinkay too departs to do his duty, while Saffi is placed under the control of Kareska for the duration of the war.

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Act III opens in Vienna - the war is now over and the women are awaiting the return of their men. Graf Peter Homonoy the Chancellor enters and exchanges heated words with Kareska over the latter's ungentlemanly treatment of Saffi. Zsupan and Otto are the first men to arrive and tell very colourful stories of their exploits. They do however win the hearts of Mirabella and Arletta. The other men soon enter and with them Barinkay. He is told by the Chancellor that because of his fine leadership of his men, the Emperor has seen fit to restore his estates and treasure to him and has also conferred on him the style and title of the "Gypsy Baron". Barinkay is united with Saffi and the play ends on a note of great rejoicing.

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SCENES

Act I

Outside the gates of Zsupan's residence in Zrinyi

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Act II

Before the entrance of Barinkay's Castle

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Act III

A state room of palace in Vienna

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MUSICAL NUMBERS

Act I

'Up in the morning with the lark' 
'I haven't found the right man yet'
'Tact'
'Stange are the powers'
'Birds in their little nests agree'
'Danube River of dreams'
'I've lived a sheltered life'
'Song of welcome'
'Sweet is Gypsy life'

Act II

'Hail midsummer morn'
'Treasure waltz'
'Recruiting song'
'In the army'

Act III

'When Vienna Sings'
'How I done it'
'Marching along'
'Sweet is Gypsy life'

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