Dédé (opérette)
Encyclopedia
Dédé is an opérette or musical comedy
in three acts with music by Henri Christiné
and a French
libretto by Albert Willemetz
. It marked an important milestone in developing the career of Maurice Chevalier
.
, Paris on 10 November 1921, almost exactly three years after Christiné’s hit Phi-Phi
, and although Dédé did not manage that long a run, this was mainly due to a change of theatre. Revivals took place at the Théâtre Marigny
in 1942, again in Paris in 1973 and in Lyon in 1993. In recent years it has been produced in Brussels, Cannes, Marseille, Metz, Reims (broadcast on France 3
), and on tour by Opéra Éclaté
.
A film adaptation
of the piece was released in 1935, starring Albert Préjean and Danielle Darrieux
. A complete sound recording was made in 1953, with Chevalier in his original role, and another from Decca/RCA in 1973, complete with dialogue.
in the evenings. Dédé tries to get Odette to tell him all about herself and she pretends to be the wife of the Préfet de Police. Denise overhears all this.
Maître Leroydet comes to the shop every day pretending to be looking for comfortable shoes, but in fact courting Denise, the shop’s head seamstress, who herself is in love with Dédé.
Robert d’Auvergne, Dédé’s friend, has lost his fortune gambling in Monte Carlo; when Dédé calls to see Odette he finds Robert and to help him out makes him manager of the shop.
Meanwhile, the shoe workers union calls a strike, and a delegation come to demand that Dédé close his shop, but the strikers are distracted by the sales girls.
Odette finds herself alone with Dédé but sees her husband looking through the shop window and hides.
With a crowd in the shop, the police inspector comes looking for the strikers. Dédé and his friends think that the Préfet himself has come looking for his wife. So to divert attention, Denise appears scantily dressed as Dédé’s mistress. While Dédé and Robert hold the fort, Odette escapes from the shop; the police officer states who he is why he is there. Dédé now wonders who Odette really is.
Robert turns his attentions to Odette. He convinces her, and when Odette learns of Dédé's generosity, she gets Chausson to keep Robert as manager.
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
in three acts with music by Henri Christiné
Henri Christiné
Henri Marius Christiné was a French composer of Swiss birth.The son of a French Savoyard watchmaker, Christiné was born in Geneva, Switzerland. He began by teaching at the lycée in Geneva, while pursuing his interest in music and playing organ in a local church...
and a French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
libretto by Albert Willemetz
Albert Willemetz
Albert Willemetz was a French librettist.Albert Willemetz was a prolific lyricist. He invented a new type of musical, with a humorous and "sexy" style...
. It marked an important milestone in developing the career of Maurice Chevalier
Maurice Chevalier
Maurice Auguste Chevalier was a French actor, singer, entertainer and a noted Sprechgesang performer. He is perhaps best known for his signature songs, including Louise, Mimi, Valentine, and Thank Heaven for Little Girls and for his films including The Love Parade and The Big Pond...
.
Performance history
Dédé opened at the Théâtre des Bouffes ParisiensThéâtre des Bouffes Parisiens
The Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens is a Parisian theatre which was founded in 1855 by the composer Jacques Offenbach for the performance of opéra bouffe and operetta. The current theatre is located in the 2nd arrondissement at 4 rue Monsigny with an entrance at the back at 65 Passage Choiseul. In...
, Paris on 10 November 1921, almost exactly three years after Christiné’s hit Phi-Phi
Phi-Phi
Phi-Phi is an opérette légère in three acts with music by Henri Christiné and a French libretto by Albert Willemetz and Fabien Solar. The piece was one which founded the new style of French comédie musicale, the first to really use the latest rhythms of jazz along with a plot which emphasised...
, and although Dédé did not manage that long a run, this was mainly due to a change of theatre. Revivals took place at the Théâtre Marigny
Théâtre Marigny
The Théâtre Marigny is a theatre in Paris, situated near the junction of the Champs-Élysées and the Avenue Marigny, in the 8th arrondissement. It was originally built to designs of the architect Charles Garnier for the display of a panorama, which opened in 1883...
in 1942, again in Paris in 1973 and in Lyon in 1993. In recent years it has been produced in Brussels, Cannes, Marseille, Metz, Reims (broadcast on France 3
France 3
France 3 is the second largest French public television channel and part of the France Télévisions group, which also includes France 2, France 4, France 5, and France Ô....
), and on tour by Opéra Éclaté
Opéra Éclaté
Opéra Éclaté is a small-scale opera company based in Colomiers, Midi-Pyrénées, France.It was founded in 1985 by Oliver Desbordes, who remains its director, while also undertaking stage direction of many productions...
.
A film adaptation
Dédé (1935 film)
Dédé is a 1935 French comedy film directed by René Guissart, based on operetta by Albert Willemetz, and starring Danielle Darrieux, Albert Préjean and Mireille Perrey. The music is by Henri Christiné....
of the piece was released in 1935, starring Albert Préjean and Danielle Darrieux
Danielle Darrieux
Danielle Yvonne Marie Antoinette Darrieux is a French actress and singer, who has appeared in more than 110 films since 1931. She is one of France's great movie stars and her eight-decade career is among the longest in film history....
. A complete sound recording was made in 1953, with Chevalier in his original role, and another from Decca/RCA in 1973, complete with dialogue.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 12 November 1918 (Conductor: -) |
|---|---|---|
| André de la Huchette ('Dédé') | baritone Baritone Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or... |
André Urban |
| Robert Dauvergne | baritone | Maurice Chevalier Maurice Chevalier Maurice Auguste Chevalier was a French actor, singer, entertainer and a noted Sprechgesang performer. He is perhaps best known for his signature songs, including Louise, Mimi, Valentine, and Thank Heaven for Little Girls and for his films including The Love Parade and The Big Pond... |
| Maître Leroydet, a notary | - | Louis Baron, fils Louis Baron, son Louis Bouchêne, known as Louis Baron, fils , was an actor and singer, who took part in many operettas and comédie-musicales, and was in 30 films between 1929 et 1938... |
| Chausson | - | Hemdey |
| Le Commissaire | - | Géo Bury |
| Denise | soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody... |
Alice Cocéa |
| Odette | soprano | Maguy Warna |
| Une amie | - | Marthe Duguet |
| Lucette | - | G Pommier |
Act I
André de la Huchette (known as Dédé), is attempting to woo Odette, a beautiful woman he met at a dance. Monsieur Chausson, Odette's husband, has problems with his business, and Dédé has bought it as an ideal place to carry on a liaison with Odette, not aware that Monsieur Chausson is her husband. The sales girls are all dancers at the Casino de ParisCasino de Paris
The Casino de Paris, located at 16, rue de Clichy, in the 9th arrondissement is one of the well known music halls of Paris, with a history dating back to the 18th century. Contrary to what the name might suggest, it is a performance venue, not a gambling house...
in the evenings. Dédé tries to get Odette to tell him all about herself and she pretends to be the wife of the Préfet de Police. Denise overhears all this.
Maître Leroydet comes to the shop every day pretending to be looking for comfortable shoes, but in fact courting Denise, the shop’s head seamstress, who herself is in love with Dédé.
Robert d’Auvergne, Dédé’s friend, has lost his fortune gambling in Monte Carlo; when Dédé calls to see Odette he finds Robert and to help him out makes him manager of the shop.
Act II
Unaware that the Préfet is not married, Denise in her jealousy sends an anonymous letter to him, where she reveals his supposed wife's adultery.Meanwhile, the shoe workers union calls a strike, and a delegation come to demand that Dédé close his shop, but the strikers are distracted by the sales girls.
Odette finds herself alone with Dédé but sees her husband looking through the shop window and hides.
With a crowd in the shop, the police inspector comes looking for the strikers. Dédé and his friends think that the Préfet himself has come looking for his wife. So to divert attention, Denise appears scantily dressed as Dédé’s mistress. While Dédé and Robert hold the fort, Odette escapes from the shop; the police officer states who he is why he is there. Dédé now wonders who Odette really is.
Act III
Dédé realises that he will be happy with Denise and asks for her hand. As the shop is now no use to him, he presents it to Chausson.Robert turns his attentions to Odette. He convinces her, and when Odette learns of Dédé's generosity, she gets Chausson to keep Robert as manager.