the new musical of Napoleon's St. Helena exile
Napoleonic Literature
"I'm impressed!"
John Schneider
hear numbers from the show
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My Time Is At Hand As the new governor of St. Helena, Sir Hudson Lowe believes he must break the spirit of Napoleon to ensure the fallen emperor will submit to captivity and so make no escape attempts. Whilst outwardly confident of taming a spirit that reshaped world history, inwardly
Lowe dreads the unprincipled, psychological warefare he intends to wage against his eminent adversary. Hoping to shrug off his sense of forboding,
the new governon leads his men in some jingoistic morale boosting.
Why Ever Tell? Below decks of the St. Helena bound HMS Northumberland, Leporello returns the watch which, as a joke, he lifted earlier from Marchand. Marchand is in no mood for Leporello so chases the jester away. Marchand hears his master pacing in torment above decks. As the black rock of St. Helena grows on the horizon, Napoleon is racked by memories of glorious campaigns, all danced around him as a fantasy ballet. A torrent of anguish and frustration culminate in Napoleon battling to retain his wits.
Jamestown. The French are displeased with their temporary lodging at St. Helena's port. Island govenor Sir George Cockburn tries, but fails to maintain a steely indifference towards the grievances aired by the world's most famous prisoner. The relative ease with which Napoleon dominates Cockburn will see Sir George replaced by the more resolved Sir Hudson Lowe who will engage Bonaparte in his last battle of wills. In the meantime, the French contingent seem to have found a new friend in William Ballcombe, the island's superintendent of the East India Trading company.
History Of Tears. After reminiscing with Marchand about old campaigns, Napoleon can't sleep. Exhausted, distressed, the emperor reaches for comfort from the vision of Josephine's ghost. Her teasing of her ex-husband's infidelities develops into anger, which Napoleon pleads with but then laughs off. Put out, the ghost of Josephine departs, leaving Napoleon ever more desperate.
Its Not Fair! Betsy Balcombe complains to her father William that with Napoleon at large on the island its too dangerous for her to hold her birthday beach party. Balcombe teases Betsy saying Napoleon is a nine foot monster with two heads. Suddenly, Napoleon and his enterrage appear at the Balcombe's house. Betsy hides under the piano, but emerges to befriend a short stranger who seems upset.
The English At Play. Napoleon and his generals weigh the worth of Balcombe's proferred friendship against the tried and tested friendship of Capel Loft, an English lawyer. Loft had railed against the British government's betrayal of Napoleon's rights in English law. Dr. O'mera is ignorant of these events, but explaining them to him provide the French with a welcome opportunity to mock English hypocrisy.
The Pinch Tail Jig. Leporello's after dinner caberet at Balcombe's house centres upon four mice pulling a model carriage. When the mice fail to perform, Napoleon instructs Leporello to pinch the tails of the front mice, which works. Inspred by this, O'mera plays a jig which sets the whole party dancing.
