“La fanciulla del West”
by Giacomo Puccini libretto (English)
| Characters |
| Minnie — Soprano Jack Rance (sheriff) — Baritone Dick Johnson (Ramerrez) — Tenor Nick (bartender at the Polka Saloon) — Tenor Ashby (Wells Fargo agent) — Bass Miners Sonora — Baritone Trin — Comprimario Tenor Sid — Baritone Bello — Baritone Harry — Tenor Joe — Tenor Happy — Baritone Larkens — Bass Billy Jackrabbit (a Native American) — Comprimario Bass Wowkle (Billy’s Native American companion) — Mezzo-soprano Jake Wallace (a traveling ballad singer) — Baritone José Castro (of mixed ancestry, a member of Ramerrez’s gang) — Bass A Pony Express Rider — Comprimario Tenor Men of the mining camp Time and Place At the foot of the Cloudy Mountains in California. A mining camp during the Gold Rush, 1849–1850. |
| FIRST ACT |
| Inside the “Polka” saloon. A large, roughly constructed room, triangular in shape, with two walls forming its sides, the one on the right being longer. The rear corner is cut off by a large opening forming a double door, which can be barred from within. Against one side wall, a small staircase leads to a landing projecting over the room like a balcony, from which hang deerskins and coarse draperies of bright colors. Beneath the balcony, a short passage leads into the “dance hall,” as indicated by a sign in red letters. The passage is guarded by a stuffed bear. Near the rear door stands the bar, with glasses, bottles, etc. Behind it, on one side, is a small cupboard without doors, holding dishes; on the other, a small barrel into which the miners deposit their gold dust. Behind the bar, in the center, is a rectangular window with a checkered frame; above the window, in large letters, are the words: “A real home for the boys.” On the same wall hangs a wanted poster offering 5,000 dollars: the amount is clearly visible, as is the name “Ramerrez” and the signature “Wells Fargo.” From the ceiling hang various kinds of characteristic provisions. On one side is a screen of sheet iron to protect people from gunfire; on the other, a large fireplace. Near the front of the stage stands the faro table, with all the equipment for the game; another table stands toward the rear, and yet another near the bar. (Through the large rear door and the window can be seen the valley, with its wild vegetation of oaks and low-growing conifers, all bathed in the blazing light of sunset. In the distance, the snow-covered mountains fade into shades of gold and violet. The brilliant outdoor light, rapidly diminishing, makes the interior seem even darker. Inside the “Polka,” the outlines of objects are barely visible in the gloom. On the left, near the front of the stage, beside the fireplace, the glowing tip of Jack Rance’s cigar can be seen. Near the staircase on the right, Larkens sits on a barrel, his head buried in his hands. Suddenly he rises, takes a letter from his pocket, looks at it sadly, goes to the bar, takes a postage stamp, affixes it to the letter, drops it into the letterbox, and returns to his seat. Outside, in the distance, cries mingle with the plaintive echoes of songs.) |
| Distant voices To the “Polka”! To the “Palms”! “Hello!” “Hello!” (a refrain heard from very far away) “Far away, Far away, how she will weep!...” (Nick comes out from beneath the stairs with a candle he has lit from a small oil lamp. He lights the candles scattered about, climbs onto a stool and lights the central lamp; he lights the lamps in the dance hall, then goes upstairs to light those in the upper room. The “Polka” suddenly comes to life. Groups of miners begin to enter, returning from the camp.) |
| Harry, Joe, Bello and others (entering) “Hello,” Nick! Nick Good evening, boys! Sid and Happy, followed by Billy “Hello!” Nick “Hello!” Joe, Bello and the others (humming an American refrain) “Dooda, dooda, day—” Harry (sitting down at the faro table) Cigars, Nick! Joe (slapping a hand on the table) Whiskey! Nick Coming! |
| Bello Minnie? Nick She’s well. Sid (having seated himself at the faro table, to the others gathered around) Boys, a game of faro! Who’s in? Harry I’m in. Happy I’m in too. Joe Me too. Bello “All right!” Who’s dealing? Happy (pointing to Sid) Sid. Bello That’s bad news. Sid (throwing the cards contemptuously onto the table) Anyone who wants to shuffle, go ahead. (Harry shuffles the cards) Joe (slapping Sid with his open hand on the shoulder) “Hello!” (Sonora and Trin enter, followed by several miners carrying saddles and equipment, which they noisily throw to the ground; some then go upstairs to the upper rooms, while others head into the dance hall and gather around the gaming table.) |
| Sonora and Trin Supper, Nick! What have you got? Nick Not much. Pickled oysters... Sonora Whatever you’ve got. Trin ... With whiskey. Sonora (clapping Larkens on the shoulders) “Hello,” Larkens! Larkens (sadly, without lifting his head from his hands) “Hello!” The miners (getting ready to play) Let’s go!... Sid Place your bets. (Nick, bustling about, carries bottles and glasses back and forth between the upper room and the dance hall. He also sets the middle table for Sonora and Trin.) Joe (placing a bet) On the “garden”! Harry (doing the same) On the low cards! Bello (doing the same) On the high cards! |
| The miners (from the balcony) Nick, drinks! Sonora (to Trin, sitting down at the table set for them) Shall I wait for you? Trin (from the group of gamblers, to Sonora) Coming... Happy Chips! Sid A king... An ace. Bello (angrily) Damn it! Rance (to Nick as he passes by, pointing toward Larkens, who has lowered his head onto his arms) What’s wrong with Larkens? Is he ill? Nick His usual trouble. Homesickness. Longing for his homeland. He thinks of his old Cornwall and his mother far away, waiting for him... Rance (relighting his cigar) What a cursed land, this golden West! Nick He’s got gold fever. Gold poisons the blood of anyone who looks at it. Rance And Minnie, why is she taking so long? (At the faro table, the gambling grows more intense.) |
| Sid (to Happy, indicating his bet) How many dollars? Happy Ten. Sid (giving him his change) And ninety makes a hundred. Jack... Queen... Joe Hurrah! Hurray! Happy (angrily) Damn it! Trin Damned Australian! Joe The three never wins. Trin Everything on the three! Sid Three... Seven... (The gamblers bet more and more fiercely; muttered curses and the jingling of coins can be heard.) Trin Lost it all. “Goodbye!” (He leaves the gaming table and sits down at the one where Sonora is eating. At the gaming table, arguments and protests grow increasingly heated. Nick rushes back and forth carrying drinks, cigars, etc. Some miners go upstairs, while others come down; some head to the bar, while others linger at the gaming table, watching the play. More miners of various kinds enter. Billy stealthily approaches the bar, steals some cigars, and leaves. Great patches of stars appear in the cloudy sky.) |
| Nick (returning from the dance hall, calling loudly to everyone) In the dance hall, boys, they want you to dance! Sonora Dance? They must be crazy! I don’t dance with men! (to Trin) Don’t you agree? Trin Right. Sonora (rising, speaking privately to Nick, who returns from the bar with the cigar box) Has Minnie finally made up her mind about me? Nick (craftily, playing along with him) Certainly: I’ve gathered that you’re her favorite!... Sonora (beaming with delight, calling loudly to his companions) Cigars for everyone! All Hurrah! (Nick hurries to fetch the cigar box and hands out cigars; from the dance hall emerge two young men, dancing.) |
| Trin (stopping Nick, speaking privately in a low voice) Nick, what did she tell you? Nick (craftily, playing along with him too) Well, if I’ve understood correctly, you’re her favorite. Trin (beaming with delight) Whiskey for everyone! All Hurrah! (Nick goes around serving bottles and glasses) Jake Wallace (singing outside) “What are my dear old folks doing far away, far away, what are they doing back home? Sad and lonely, my dear old folks will weep, thinking I’ll never return!” Nick (appearing in the doorway) Boys, let me introduce Jake Wallace, the minstrel of the camp! (But already the nostalgic song has touched all those greedy and rough souls: heads are raised, ears are listening intently; the game slows. Those upstairs lean out to watch; in the silence, the clinking of gambling chips gradually fades away. Jake Wallace, the wandering singer, appears in the doorway, singing and accompanying himself on the banjo.) Jake Wallace (entering) “My mother... (He stops, astonished by the silence that greets him. All the miners, their faces turned toward him, gesture with their hands for him to continue.) |
| Jake (continuing) ... what will she do if I don’t return, if I don’t return? How she will weep!” Some miners (at the gaming table) At her loom she’ll weave linen and sorrow into the shroud that will cover her...” Some miners (from the balcony of the upper room) And my dog, after so long... Jake Wallace My dog... Other miners (upstairs) my dog, will he recognize me?...” (An almost desperate homesickness takes hold of everyone. Someone who has begun accompanying the song by beating his fist with dull thuds upon the table suddenly stops.) Harry (bursting out as though with a sob) “Oh, my home beside the stream... The miners (at the table) far away... The miners (upstairs) far away... All (softly) ... Who will ever see you again?” |
| (The song dies away in anguish. Silence. Stirred by the nostalgic song, Larkens has shaken off his painful stupor and risen. At the last words of the chorus, he bursts into tears. Jake Wallace enters the room and watches the scene without taking part.) Voices - Jim, why are you crying? - Jim!... - What’s wrong?... Larkens (in tears, pleading) I can’t bear it anymore, I can’t bear it anymore, boys! I’m sick, I don’t know what’s wrong... Send me away, oh, send me away! I’m ruined! I’m tired of picks and mines! I want the plow, I want my mother!... (Everyone gathers around him, deeply moved, comforting him. Sonora takes a tray and invites everyone to contribute money for Larkens. Everyone gives except Sid. Someone tosses coins down from the upper balcony.) |
| Sonora To send him back home... Voices Take this... - Here... - Five dollars! Another five!... - Here, Son... And these too... Sonora (to Larkens) Take heart! (He empties the contents of the tray into Larkens’s hands, who, overwhelmed and bewildered, offers greetings and smiles to everyone through his tears.) |
| Larkens Thank you, thank you, boys!... (Larkens leaves; a group of miners takes up the melody of the song again. Billy stealthily approaches the bar, trying to steal a drink; Nick sees him and drives him away. Billy then crouches on the floor, near the front of the stage, playing solitaire. Jake Wallace enters the dance hall with several men. Around Sid, the faro game has resumed.) Voices All bets in?... - On the four... - On the three... I’ll double... - Bets are placed... No more bets!... - Two!... King! Bello (having caught Sid cheating, slams his fist hard on the table) That’s outright theft! Sonora Hands up! Trin Cheat! Bello Arms up! (he picks up the deck of cards and throws it onto the table) Look! Harry Tie him up! Sonora String him up! |
| Voices - Hang the thief! - Hang the cheat! (Sid is seized and dragged to the center of the stage. Everyone crowds around him, roughing him up, even Billy, who has risen from the floor. Jake Rance, who had gone out, appears in the doorway of the dance hall, watching the scene with cold indifference.) Sid (pleading) For pity’s sake... Jack Rance (approaching) What’s going on? Bello He cheated! He’ll get what he deserves!... Voices Hang him!... Rance (smiling, he slowly takes his handkerchief from his pocket, unfolds it unhurriedly, and wipes his shoes, resting one foot on a chair.) Come on, boys! Calm down a little... Here... let’s see. Voices Hang Sid! Put him to death! (Everyone closes in threateningly around the trembling Sid once more.) |
| Rance (holding them back, coldly) Come now! What is death, after all? A kick into the darkness, and good night! I know a more fitting punishment. Give me his card... (They give Rance the two of spades; he pins it to Sid’s chest with a pin, over his heart.) Over his heart, as one wears a flower. He’ll never touch cards again. This is the sign. If he dares to remove it, hang him. (to Bello, authoritatively) Tomorrow, spread the word around the camp. (to Sid) Go! Sid (whimpering, pleading for mercy) Boys, have mercy!... All (mocking him and pushing him out) Get out of here! Out! - Get out! - Away with you! - Thief! - Boo! Boo! (They kick him out; Billy, also afraid of getting a kick from Rance, slips out cautiously. Rance, as though nothing had happened, sits down at the faro table, inviting the others to join him. Harry, Joe, and a miner sit at the table on the right, drinking.) |
| Rance (to Sonora and Trin) A game of poker! (to Nick) Nick, chips! (Nick brings the chips; they begin playing. Ashby enters.) Ashby Sheriff, hello! Rance (to the miners) Make way, boys! Let me introduce Mr. Ashby of the Wells Fargo Agency. (Ashby shakes hands with Rance, Sonora, Trin, and the others nearby. He greets those farther away with a wave of his hand, and they respond in the same way.) Ashby Nick, bring me a drink. (to those nearby) How’s the girl doing? All (flattered) She’s well, thank you. (Nick brings four whiskeys to the table.) Rance Any news of the bandit? Ashby I’ve been watching for him for three months; he can’t be far away... (Nick leaves.) Rance (to Ashby) They say he steals like a fine gentleman! Is he Spanish? |
| Ashby The gang of thieves he commands is Mexican: a tough bunch of scoundrels, cunning, ready for anything. Be on your guard. I’m going to lie down. I’m tired, every bone aches. Good night, everyone! (He takes a blanket from beneath the stairs and lies down on the sacks, paying no attention to what is happening around him. Nick returns with a tray full of glasses of whiskey with lemon.) Trin (to Nick) What’s this? Nick Minnie’s treating! All (with affection) Long live Minnie! Long live our Minnie! Rance (self-importantly) Mrs. Rance, before long. Sonora (bursting out) No, you Chinese-faced fool! Minnie is making a fool of you! Rance (rising, livid with anger) Boy, that’s the whiskey talking. I pity you... Until now, no one, understand, has ever made a fool of Jack Rance! And you’re lucky I pay no heed to insults from drunkards! |
| Sonora (draws his pistol, but is restrained by his companions. Nick and several others, who have returned, take shelter behind the sheet-metal screen, to avoid being struck by gunfire.) You old gambling shark! Minnie is making a fool of you! Rance (taking a step forward) Prove it! Sonora (breaking free) She’s making a fool of you, yellow-face! Rance Ah, you wretch! (He lunges at Sonora; they grapple; the others try to separate them, but before they can, a woman suddenly leaps in and, with fierce strength, violently pulls them apart, snatching the pistol from Sonora’s hand. It is Minnie. Bello follows her, stopping by the bar to watch admiringly. A shout rises from every corner; the anger instantly subsides; only Rance withdraws, looking thoroughly gloomy, to his chair on the left.) All (enthusiastically, waving their hats) “Hello,” Minnie! “Hello,” Minnie! Minnie (stepping forward, authoritatively) What’s been going on?... (sternly, to Sonora) You again, Sonora? Trin Nothing, Minnie; just nonsense... We were joking! Minnie (angrily) You’ll ruin everything! Shame on you!... |
| Joe (offering her a small bouquet of flowers) Minnie... Minnie I won’t teach anymore. All No, Minnie, no!... Sonora (embarrassed) You know, when you’re late, we get bored... And then... Minnie (she shakes her head and smiles, her anger softened; approaching the bar, she notices Bello gazing dreamily) Bello, what are you doing? What are you looking at? Bello (startled, he smiles awkwardly) Nothing... Some miners (laughing) He was looking... at you! Joe (offering her the bouquet) Minnie, I picked them along Black Creek... Back in my hometown, there are so many! The meadows are full of them... Minnie Oh, thank you, thank you, Joe!... Sonora (taking a folded ribbon from his pocket) A traveling merchant came through camp today from San Francisco... He had lace and ribbons. (unfolding the ribbon with affectionate gallantry) This is for you... See, it’s crimson, just like your lips... |
🎼
Continue reading
You’re viewing a preview of this translation.
Create a free account to save your place and manage access.
Register freeAlready have an account? Log in
To read the complete translation:
Unlock this opera — $3.99 one-time
Full access to all operas — $5/month