A SATIRICAL OPERETTA TO THE MUSIC OF JACQUES OFFENBACH’S LA BELLE HÉLÈNE.

Political reality TV in Gogolia.

Albert Nulentout, Paul Quifourien, and Marcel Kesske-Janssais, ministers in Gogolia’s government, are contestants on the show “My Favourite Minister,” where viewers vote for the one who, in their opinion, best answers questions posed live. Of course, the ministers’ answers are appalling, but the situation turns downright disastrous when the Prime Minister’s wife, Marie-Victoire Couchtoila, falls under the spell of a tabloid journalist who takes advantage of the situation to extract indiscretions from her about her husband’s hidden assets.

La Belle Hélène revisited

La Belle Hélène tells the story of Paris and Helen, whose illegitimate love affair supposedly caused the Trojan War. But no one was fooled: the comrades Offenbach, Halévy, and Meilhac roundly ridiculed the political class of the time. This explains why I had no trouble adapting the play to the 21st century, and to our beloved politicians. My favorite minister incorporates all the elements of La Belle Hélène. The script retains the structure of the libretto, and the songs are aligned with the score.

Satirical operetta written in 2016.
Libretto: Jacques Lafarge.
Music: Jacques Offenbach (score of La Belle Hélène)

Song ‘The Principle in Politics’, to the tune of ‘On Mount Ida’

The principle in politics
Is a well-known thing
What applies to the people
Does not apply to elected officials.

Evohé, our dear city officials,
To cheat the citizens
Evohé, our dear city officials
Always find a way.
Always find a way.

We declare our income
And we pay our taxes
For us it’s mandatory
But for them it would be too much
Aaaah! A plane, a taxi, quickly
They really need them
But we, all we deserve
Is public transportation.

Evohé, our dear city officials
To cheat the citizens
Evohé, our dear city officials
Always find a way.
Always find a way.

We, for the smallest mistake
We pay, we go to jail.
They, whether they’re guilty or cheats,
They’ll always get away with it.

Evohé, our dear city officials
Always find a way.

They subsidize galore
Although it never works
But it’s our money they give
We, the turkeys of the farce.

Evohé, our dear city officials
Always find a way
To fleece the citizens.

Their unfathomable worthlessness
Won’t stop them,
It’s an incredible thing, my good man,
To be elected every time.

Evohé, our dear city officials
To screw the citizens
Evohé, our dear city officials
Always find a way
To screw the citizens.

Production

Any person, association, or company wishing to produce the play is welcome.