Gismonda
Encyclopedia
Gismonda is Greek melodrama in four acts by Victorien Sardou
that premiered in 1894 at Renaissance Theatre. Later it would be adapted into the opera Gismonda by Henry Février
.
at the foot of the Acropolis
.
In the opening act, we find Gismonda, the widow of the Duke of Athens
, and the mother of his child, a five-year old boy named Francesco. Gismonda is the ruling power of the duchy
as regent
for her son, an absolute monarch. She is surrounded by a flattering court, among whom is a Venetian
, named Zaccaria Franco, who loved the Duchess before she married the Duke of Athens. He is seemingly one of her strongest supporters, but is actually trying to seize power for himself. Zaccaria is in league with the Turks
, who support him in his plotting against the duchy. Gismonda’s young son Francesco, the heir to the duchy, stands between Zaccaria and his ambitions. So Zaccaria has conspired with an accomplice, Gregorez, to murder the boy.
In the opening scene, a cross stands in the center of the stage and a crowd is surging about it. Presently Agnello, a young nephew of the Duchess Gismonda, enters. He looks down at a tiger
in a pit, preferring to keep his distance from it, and discusses a statue of Aphrodite
, next to the cross, with some comrades. Zaccaria and his accomplice Gregorez appear. They plan to lure Francesco, Gismonda's son, to the edge of the pit, and shove him in, making it look like an accident. The excitement above has driven the captive tiger into a frenzy.
After a long scene, in which every detail of their scheme is arranged, Zaccaria and Gregorez are joined on stage by Gismonda, with Francesco and others. Gismonda says that she does not like the statue of Aphrodite. A bishop
passes by, and he agrees that the statue is inappropriate. During this talk, Gregorez has taken Francesco to the edge of the pit to show him the tiger. With a quick jostle, Francesco falls in.
Gismonda sees her son fall into the tiger pit and screams. She does not see that Gregorez pushed him in. She beseeches someone--anyone--to save her son. She offers unlimited rewards but no one is willing to risk almost certain death to rescue the boy. At last a man takes a poignard
and goes to the child’s rescue. The tiger crouches ready to seize his prey and the man leaps into the pit.
Gismonda prays for help at the foot of the cross. The others describe the conflict in the pit. The man stabs the tiger in the eye. The point of the dagger goes through to its brain and the tiger dies.
Joyful, Gismonda hugs Francesco, and vows before God to marry and share her duchy with the man who saved her son. No one knows the man, who turns out to be Almerio, a commoner. When she hears this, Gismonda's gratitude begins to cool. Her child is safe, and she has no desire to marry a commoner. The bishop reminds her of her promise. Gismonda tells the bishop that he need not remind her of her oath; it is impossible to fulfill it.
The entire play revolves around this vow.
Gismonda kindly and patronizingly thanks Almerio, and begins to look for a loophole out of her promise. She decides to appeal to the Pope
. Almerio, however, wants her to live up to her vow. Gismonda promises him whatever he wants, except herself and her duchy.
"Vous avez promis et j'insiste que vous tiendrez votre promesse (You promised and I insist that you keep your word),” Almerio says.
The curtain falls as Gismonda is hurrying away with her child.
Act II.
The second act begins in the Convent
of Daphne
, where Gismonda has gone into a retreat with her son, Francesco. The boy is ill with a strange fever that comes on every evening and breaks every morning.
Rumors circulate, even in the convent, that during Easter
week Gismonda will marry Almerio, the man who has saved the life of her son. A character tells how Almerio was treated for his injuries in the palace, and that the courtiers learned to admire the handsome, brave man. Almerio had been a falconer at the ducal palace and loved Gismonda long before she ever knew of his existence. Gismonda, meanwhile, is eagerly awaiting an answer from the Pope about whether her vow can be absolved.
Many calamities have fallen upon the people of Athens lately, and they have blamed Gismonda. In breaking a pledge made in the sight of God, it is said she is bringing disaster upon the country. Half of the lower part of the city is flooded, cholera is raging, a cross has blown off a church, and, worst of all, pirates have landed at Marathon
.
A noble offered an estate and the title of duke
to the man who will bring before him the head of the pirate leader. Almerio took two hundred men and marched on Marathon. He defeated the pirates and beheaded their leader. As a reward, Almerio became the Count of Sonla.
Gismonda fears all suitors. She thinks they are in love with her duchy, not with her. There is only one man she thinks, perhaps, she can trust—Zaccaria. At this point, Zaccaria enters. He pleads his love for Gismonda, in vain.
The bishop comes in an tells Gismonda that the Pope insists that Gismonda muse keep her vow and marry Almeiro, or else she must be the spouse of Christ, that is, a nun
.
Almerio's triumphal approach is heard. The populace is bearing him, a conquering hero, to the convent. Zaccaria and the barons see that the gates are tightly closed against the approaching procession. Almeiro and the barons all draw their swords. "Stop!" Gismonda commands, and orders Almerio to give up his sword. Zaccaria wants Almerio to be taken prisoner, but Gismonda forbids it, calling him sacred.
“Voilà un homme! (There is a man!)," she says, looking at Almerio with pride.
Act III.
This act takes place in Gismonda’s private apartment in her palace.
The Athenian populace is not pleased that their Duchess does not keep her vow. The sympathy of the people is with Almerio. The barons, Gismonda's followers, jeer at Almerio’s presumption. Gismonda tells a doctor that she imagines she sees Almeiro everywhere. The doctor thinks it is her conscience bothering her, and advises prayer rather than medicine.
The next day is a feast day and Zaccaria worries that the people, who support Almeiro, might begin an uprising. The barons propose different ways that Almeiro might be killed, but Gismonda rejects them.
Almeiro is quietly brought to Gismonda’s room. She notices that he is very handsome, but she still does not want to marry him. She offers him money and a barony
, but Almerio says the only thing he wants is to marry Gismonda. He tells her that he did not save Francesco to become Duke of Athens, but just to win Gismonda’s love. Almeiro offers to give up his dukedom and even his claim to marry Gismonda if he can become her lover. Gismonda agrees, and makes Almeiro promise to publicly absolve her from her vow.
ACT IV.
The act begins near Almerio's cabin. Gismonda has kept her promise to be Almeiro’s lover, and is leaving his cabin. Her maid, Thisbe, has followed here and confronts her. Thisbe asks if Gismonda has fallen in love with Almerio. “"Oui, mon âme et mon corps sont à lui, et je me méprise pour ma folie. (Yes, body and soul, I am his; and I hate myself for it)," Gismonda confesses.
Gregorez and Zaccaria approach. Gismonda and Thisbe hide. Zaccaria wants Gregorez to kill Almerio in his sleep, but Gregoriez hesitates.
"Un homme qui dort ne donne pas de peine (A sleeping man is no trouble at all)," Zaccaria urges.
“Il est plus facile de pousser un enfant dans un trou que de tuer un homme, grand et fort comme Almério (It is easier to push the child into the tiger's pit than to kill a big strong man like this Almerio)," Gregorez answers.
He drops his hatchet and runs. Zaccaria calls after him that he’ll kill Almerio and the child, Francesco, himself. At this, Gismonda takes the hatchet and attacks Zaccaria, screaming, “Vous avez donné mon fils au tigre; je vous donne à l’enfer! (You sent my son to the tiger; I'll send you to Hell!)” Almeiro wakes up and comes out, offering to deliver the coup de grace
. Gismonda refuses, and, making sure Zaccaria can see and hear her, tells him that she loves Almeiro as Zaccaria slowly and painfully dies.
The second scene of the last act takes place a church.
The news comes of Zaccaria’s death. The people of Athens are outside carrying palms, demanding that Gismonda announce her marriage to Almeiro. Almeiro enters sadly. He is about to fulfill his vow and give up the only woman he has ever loved. As he is absolving Gismonda of her pledge, Gregorez enters, accusing Almerio of having murdered Zaccaria. Almeiro takes the blame for the murder, lest Gismonda have to admit why she was at his cabin in the night, and the barons urge Gismonda to sentence Almeiro to death. Gismonda, in turn, accuses Gregorez of having thrown her son to the tiger, at the order of Zaccaria, and of meaning to kill Almeiro. Gregoriez returns that he refused to kill Almerio, thus inadvertently betraying himself.
Gregorez is taken away, a prisoner. Gismonda fearlessly admits to having killed Zaccaria herself, and to her affair with Almeiro. She recognizes Almerio’s honor and bravery and asks him to forgive her and to become her husband. Almeiro is only too happy to marry Gismonda, and to become father to Francesco and the new duke of Athens. The people praise their new leader and the organ plays “Gloria.”
as Gismonda and Lucien Guitry
as Almerio. The show would go to broadway at the Fifth Avenue Theatre
on December 11, 1894 and end in February 1895. The set design was by Joseph Clare, D. Frank Dodge, Homer Emens, Richard Marston, and Ernest Albert.
Victorien Sardou
Victorien Sardou was a French dramatist. He is best remembered today for his development, along with Eugène Scribe, of the well-made play...
that premiered in 1894 at Renaissance Theatre. Later it would be adapted into the opera Gismonda by Henry Février
Henry Février
Henry Février was a French composer.-Biography:Henry Février studied at the Paris Conservatoire where his teachers included Jules Massenet and Gabriel Fauré. He also took private lessons with André Messager...
.
Plot
Act I starts in 1450 in AthensAthens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
at the foot of the Acropolis
Acropolis
Acropolis means "high city" in Greek, literally city on the extremity and is usually translated into English as Citadel . For purposes of defense, early people naturally chose elevated ground to build a new settlement, frequently a hill with precipitous sides...
.
In the opening act, we find Gismonda, the widow of the Duke of Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, and the mother of his child, a five-year old boy named Francesco. Gismonda is the ruling power of the duchy
Duchy
A duchy is a territory, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess.Some duchies were sovereign in areas that would become unified realms only during the Modern era . In contrast, others were subordinate districts of those kingdoms that unified either partially or completely during the Medieval era...
as regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
for her son, an absolute monarch. She is surrounded by a flattering court, among whom is a Venetian
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, named Zaccaria Franco, who loved the Duchess before she married the Duke of Athens. He is seemingly one of her strongest supporters, but is actually trying to seize power for himself. Zaccaria is in league with the Turks
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, who support him in his plotting against the duchy. Gismonda’s young son Francesco, the heir to the duchy, stands between Zaccaria and his ambitions. So Zaccaria has conspired with an accomplice, Gregorez, to murder the boy.
In the opening scene, a cross stands in the center of the stage and a crowd is surging about it. Presently Agnello, a young nephew of the Duchess Gismonda, enters. He looks down at a tiger
Tiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
in a pit, preferring to keep his distance from it, and discusses a statue of Aphrodite
Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation.Her Roman equivalent is the goddess .Historically, her cult in Greece was imported from, or influenced by, the cult of Astarte in Phoenicia....
, next to the cross, with some comrades. Zaccaria and his accomplice Gregorez appear. They plan to lure Francesco, Gismonda's son, to the edge of the pit, and shove him in, making it look like an accident. The excitement above has driven the captive tiger into a frenzy.
After a long scene, in which every detail of their scheme is arranged, Zaccaria and Gregorez are joined on stage by Gismonda, with Francesco and others. Gismonda says that she does not like the statue of Aphrodite. A bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
passes by, and he agrees that the statue is inappropriate. During this talk, Gregorez has taken Francesco to the edge of the pit to show him the tiger. With a quick jostle, Francesco falls in.
Gismonda sees her son fall into the tiger pit and screams. She does not see that Gregorez pushed him in. She beseeches someone--anyone--to save her son. She offers unlimited rewards but no one is willing to risk almost certain death to rescue the boy. At last a man takes a poignard
Poignard
Poignard, or poniard, , refers to a long, lightweight thrusting knife with a continuously tapering, acutely pointed blade and crossguard, historically worn by the upper class, noblemen, or the knighthood...
and goes to the child’s rescue. The tiger crouches ready to seize his prey and the man leaps into the pit.
Gismonda prays for help at the foot of the cross. The others describe the conflict in the pit. The man stabs the tiger in the eye. The point of the dagger goes through to its brain and the tiger dies.
Joyful, Gismonda hugs Francesco, and vows before God to marry and share her duchy with the man who saved her son. No one knows the man, who turns out to be Almerio, a commoner. When she hears this, Gismonda's gratitude begins to cool. Her child is safe, and she has no desire to marry a commoner. The bishop reminds her of her promise. Gismonda tells the bishop that he need not remind her of her oath; it is impossible to fulfill it.
The entire play revolves around this vow.
Gismonda kindly and patronizingly thanks Almerio, and begins to look for a loophole out of her promise. She decides to appeal to the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
. Almerio, however, wants her to live up to her vow. Gismonda promises him whatever he wants, except herself and her duchy.
"Vous avez promis et j'insiste que vous tiendrez votre promesse (You promised and I insist that you keep your word),” Almerio says.
The curtain falls as Gismonda is hurrying away with her child.
Act II.
The second act begins in the Convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
of Daphne
Daphne
Daphne was a female minor nature deity. Pursued by Apollo, she fled and was chased. Daphne begged the gods for help, who then transformed her into Laurel.-Overview:...
, where Gismonda has gone into a retreat with her son, Francesco. The boy is ill with a strange fever that comes on every evening and breaks every morning.
Rumors circulate, even in the convent, that during Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
week Gismonda will marry Almerio, the man who has saved the life of her son. A character tells how Almerio was treated for his injuries in the palace, and that the courtiers learned to admire the handsome, brave man. Almerio had been a falconer at the ducal palace and loved Gismonda long before she ever knew of his existence. Gismonda, meanwhile, is eagerly awaiting an answer from the Pope about whether her vow can be absolved.
Many calamities have fallen upon the people of Athens lately, and they have blamed Gismonda. In breaking a pledge made in the sight of God, it is said she is bringing disaster upon the country. Half of the lower part of the city is flooded, cholera is raging, a cross has blown off a church, and, worst of all, pirates have landed at Marathon
Marathon, Greece
Marathon is a town in Greece, the site of the battle of Marathon in 490 BC, in which the heavily outnumbered Athenian army defeated the Persians. The tumulus or burial mound for the 192 Athenian dead that was erected near the battlefield remains a feature of the coastal plain...
.
A noble offered an estate and the title of duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
to the man who will bring before him the head of the pirate leader. Almerio took two hundred men and marched on Marathon. He defeated the pirates and beheaded their leader. As a reward, Almerio became the Count of Sonla.
Gismonda fears all suitors. She thinks they are in love with her duchy, not with her. There is only one man she thinks, perhaps, she can trust—Zaccaria. At this point, Zaccaria enters. He pleads his love for Gismonda, in vain.
The bishop comes in an tells Gismonda that the Pope insists that Gismonda muse keep her vow and marry Almeiro, or else she must be the spouse of Christ, that is, a nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
.
Almerio's triumphal approach is heard. The populace is bearing him, a conquering hero, to the convent. Zaccaria and the barons see that the gates are tightly closed against the approaching procession. Almeiro and the barons all draw their swords. "Stop!" Gismonda commands, and orders Almerio to give up his sword. Zaccaria wants Almerio to be taken prisoner, but Gismonda forbids it, calling him sacred.
“Voilà un homme! (There is a man!)," she says, looking at Almerio with pride.
Act III.
This act takes place in Gismonda’s private apartment in her palace.
The Athenian populace is not pleased that their Duchess does not keep her vow. The sympathy of the people is with Almerio. The barons, Gismonda's followers, jeer at Almerio’s presumption. Gismonda tells a doctor that she imagines she sees Almeiro everywhere. The doctor thinks it is her conscience bothering her, and advises prayer rather than medicine.
The next day is a feast day and Zaccaria worries that the people, who support Almeiro, might begin an uprising. The barons propose different ways that Almeiro might be killed, but Gismonda rejects them.
Almeiro is quietly brought to Gismonda’s room. She notices that he is very handsome, but she still does not want to marry him. She offers him money and a barony
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
, but Almerio says the only thing he wants is to marry Gismonda. He tells her that he did not save Francesco to become Duke of Athens, but just to win Gismonda’s love. Almeiro offers to give up his dukedom and even his claim to marry Gismonda if he can become her lover. Gismonda agrees, and makes Almeiro promise to publicly absolve her from her vow.
ACT IV.
The act begins near Almerio's cabin. Gismonda has kept her promise to be Almeiro’s lover, and is leaving his cabin. Her maid, Thisbe, has followed here and confronts her. Thisbe asks if Gismonda has fallen in love with Almerio. “"Oui, mon âme et mon corps sont à lui, et je me méprise pour ma folie. (Yes, body and soul, I am his; and I hate myself for it)," Gismonda confesses.
Gregorez and Zaccaria approach. Gismonda and Thisbe hide. Zaccaria wants Gregorez to kill Almerio in his sleep, but Gregoriez hesitates.
"Un homme qui dort ne donne pas de peine (A sleeping man is no trouble at all)," Zaccaria urges.
“Il est plus facile de pousser un enfant dans un trou que de tuer un homme, grand et fort comme Almério (It is easier to push the child into the tiger's pit than to kill a big strong man like this Almerio)," Gregorez answers.
He drops his hatchet and runs. Zaccaria calls after him that he’ll kill Almerio and the child, Francesco, himself. At this, Gismonda takes the hatchet and attacks Zaccaria, screaming, “Vous avez donné mon fils au tigre; je vous donne à l’enfer! (You sent my son to the tiger; I'll send you to Hell!)” Almeiro wakes up and comes out, offering to deliver the coup de grace
Coup de grâce
The expression coup de grâce means a death blow intended to end the suffering of a wounded creature. The phrase can refer to the killing of civilians or soldiers, friends or enemies, with or without the consent of the sufferer...
. Gismonda refuses, and, making sure Zaccaria can see and hear her, tells him that she loves Almeiro as Zaccaria slowly and painfully dies.
The second scene of the last act takes place a church.
The news comes of Zaccaria’s death. The people of Athens are outside carrying palms, demanding that Gismonda announce her marriage to Almeiro. Almeiro enters sadly. He is about to fulfill his vow and give up the only woman he has ever loved. As he is absolving Gismonda of her pledge, Gregorez enters, accusing Almerio of having murdered Zaccaria. Almeiro takes the blame for the murder, lest Gismonda have to admit why she was at his cabin in the night, and the barons urge Gismonda to sentence Almeiro to death. Gismonda, in turn, accuses Gregorez of having thrown her son to the tiger, at the order of Zaccaria, and of meaning to kill Almeiro. Gregoriez returns that he refused to kill Almerio, thus inadvertently betraying himself.
Gregorez is taken away, a prisoner. Gismonda fearlessly admits to having killed Zaccaria herself, and to her affair with Almeiro. She recognizes Almerio’s honor and bravery and asks him to forgive her and to become her husband. Almeiro is only too happy to marry Gismonda, and to become father to Francesco and the new duke of Athens. The people praise their new leader and the organ plays “Gloria.”
Cast
The show at Renaissance starred Sarah BernhardtSarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage and early film actress, and has been referred to as "the most famous actress the world has ever known". Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of France in the 1870s, and was soon in demand in Europe and the Americas...
as Gismonda and Lucien Guitry
Lucien Guitry
Lucien Germain Guitry was a French actor.In 1885, while living in Saint Petersburg, he appeared at the French Theatre. His son, the future actor, writer and director Sacha Guitry, was born in Saint Petersburg and named in honour of Tsar Alexander III...
as Almerio. The show would go to broadway at the Fifth Avenue Theatre
Fifth Avenue Theatre
Fifth Avenue Theatre was a Broadway theatre in New York City in the United States located at 31 West 28th Street and Broadway. It was demolished in 1939....
on December 11, 1894 and end in February 1895. The set design was by Joseph Clare, D. Frank Dodge, Homer Emens, Richard Marston, and Ernest Albert.