Paris is under siege by the forces of the Duke of Burgundy; popular support for King Louis XI is at a low point. Villon – poet, braggart, thief and darling of the Paris rabble – has sent anonymous love poems to the beautiful Katherine de Vaucelles. These have caused her to reject proposals from King Louis. She goes to seek the mysterious poet at an inn, but King Louis shadows her in disguise. Louis is incensed to hear Villon mocking the failures of his reign and saying what he would do instead “If I Were King.” The infuriated monarch reveals himself. The king gives Villon a hard choice: as punishment for speaking treasonously, he must either stop courting Katherine or accept the position of Grand Marshal, with all the powers of King, for 24 hours, during which time he must make good on his boasts and free Paris. At the end of the 24 hours, Villon will hang. Villon’s dilemma is that he has promised himself to Huguette, his mistress, but now is deeply in love with Katherine.
Villon and Katherine declare their love for each other (“Only a Rose”). Hugette describes her means of livelihood (“Love for Sale”). Villon accepts Louis’ challenge. Rather than sending the King’s Scottish mercenaries against the Burgundians, Villon rouses the Paris mob to defend the city. Huguette discovers that Thibault, one of Louis’ advisors, is a traitor. When Thibault ambushes Villon and tries to stab him to death, Huguette steps in front of the blade and takes the blow, thus sacrificing her life, and freeing Villon to be with Katherine. He kills Thibault in retaliation and then leads the Paris rabble to fight the Burgundians. The Parisians emerge victorious. After the battle is over, Katharine offers to sacrifice herself to the hangman in order to save Villon. Louis, realizing he cannot shed noble blood without a just cause, rewards Villon with exile instead of death, and the two lovers leave together.
Principals (3 female; 10 male)
KATHERINE DE VAUCHELLES – Prima Donna
HUGETTE DU HAMEL – Mezzo Soprano
LADY MARY – Mezzo, should dance
FRANCOIS VILLON – Baritone or Tenor Lead
NOEL LE JOLYS – Tenor
RENE DE MONTIGNY – Baritone
CASIN CHOLET – Baritone
TOISON D'OR (Burgundian Herald) – Baritone
CAPTAIN OF SCOTCH ARCHERS – Basso
GUY TABARIE – Comedy Lead; Fat & Jolly
OLIVER LE DAIN – Second Comedy, should be fat
LOUIS XI – Non-singing
Supporting Roles
TRISTAN L’HERMITE – Non-singing
ROGATI – Astrologer
COLIN DE CAYEUL
MARGOT – Non-singing Character Woman
THIBAULT D’AUSSIGNY – Non-singing
AN ASTROLOGER – Non-singing
BLANCHE
ISABEAU
JEHAN LE LOUP
TRIOS ESCHELLES
THE BISHOP
THE HANGMAN
FIRST COURT LADY
SECOND COURT LADY
FIRST COURTIER
SECOND COURTIER
MASTER OF THE HUNT
DAME DE CHASE
Ensemble
Vagabonds, Archers, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Court, Nuns,
Dancing Girls, Pages, etc.