Premiere! Offenbach Jokes

J. Offenbach       Offenbach Jokes       operetta in 2 acts              “Jokes of Offenbach” - a performance consisting of two one-act operettas of the ingenious French composer: “Husband behind the door” and “A party with the Italians”. In the list of more than a hundred operettas written by Offenbach, these names are the most famous. In addition, the music of the French author - cheerful, hedonistic, light, but virtuoso and extremely difficult to perform - this is a kind of test for vocals for professionalism.              “The husband behind the door” is a paraphrase on the eternal theme of adultery. The only difference is that in this performance no one has cheated on anyone, is not cheating and is not going to. The man in the boudoir of the newlywed Suzon was completely by accident. Suzon and her girlfriend Rosita are trying to get rid of the unwanted guest, because her husband is about to knock on the bedroom. But at the same time, Suzon is trying to use this situation in order to cause jealousy in her too right and boring spouse. A traditional buffoonery built on unimaginable confusion. “Husband behind the door” is a smart and elegant parody of a classic melodrama with its pathos, passions and “wringing” of hands."An Evening Party with Italians" is a completely different story. Shufleri wants to be recognized as the patron of the arts and invites high-ranking guests to his home for a dinner party, where visiting Italian musicians should sing. However, the musicians do not come, Shufleri - in despair. His daughter and her lover help him out. They dress as Italians and save the evening. The culmination of the performance is the performance of “artists from Milan”. They are trying so hard to look believable, distorting words so funny that the audience at the same time enjoy the delightful music and singing - and die of laughter.