L'Histoire
The Show
What malice destroys, only love can restore. A musical of magic, revenge, and time
Synopsis
Act One · Beaune, 1452
On the night of the opening of Les Hospices de Beaune, a mysterious woman — Madame Morelle — casts a spell upon the family Rolin to avenge her husband and three sons lost in the Hundred Years' War.
Chancellor Nicolas Rolin, his wife Guigone, their daughters Louise and Claudine, and Louise's fiancé Laurent are drawn into the spell's chaotic wake. Time fractures. Memory slips. Louise dies.
Grieving, Laurent is approached by Morelle, who offers to restore Louise's life — using three magical grape leaves — if Laurent will forsake Louise and become her son in a new reality. Heartbroken, he agrees, in a stunning act one finale: ANYTHING, ANYTHING YES.
Act Two · Beaune, 1971
But Morelle is a bad sorcerer. The entire family, Laurent, and Morelle are cast into a new reality in 1971. As in 1452, there is dread and confusion; each grapples with their private demons (some humorous, some heartrending). Guigone is convinced she is a noblewoman from 1452, so everyone thinks she has dementia. Laurent, who believes he is Morelle's son, doesn't know Louise at all (but then they meet again and fall in love). The family thinks Nicolas is dead, but he is a much-disliked politician.
When Madame Morelle finally remembers who she is and what she has done, she works to restore what has been lost. Only by understanding the lie she told herself before she began this course of revenge can she finally restore what was lost.
The World
Inspired by a Brothers Grimm fairy tale and the true story of the 15th-century Burgundian family who built Les Hospices de Beaune, a musical of magic, revenge, and time, built around one question: what malice destroys, only love can restore.
The show is set at one of France's most storied venues: Les Hospices de Beaune, consecrated in 1452 and sustained to this day by proceeds from Burgundy wine.
The Score
The Company
Premiere cast and orchestra: seven principals and an ensemble of eight, with an orchestra of 24–30 musicians. Casting to be announced.