Lucky me, I got another rehearsal tonight, for a grand total of two. We didn't run it in order- we did the second half first, then the first half- but I was glad to get a chance to work through it with the Colas.

So here's the long-awaited synopsis! (Based on the English version- not sure how different the German version is, as I didn't get too deep into translating the recits when I was cramming it in Bolivia.)

Bastienne (aka Bastienna in the Schirmer version) is so sad! Her lover, Bastien, is untrue. She wants to die- but not really, because she takes solace in her sheep.

Colas the magician appears and she requests his help. He tells her Bastien still loves her- he is just being a bit of a matieralist, as the woman who's caught his attention is a sugar mamma.

She remembers how he used to steal her flowers teasingly, and is so sad that he would go to another for gifts, when she would give him all her land and sheep if he asked.

She toys with the idea of playing the courtesan like Bastien, but decides that she never could, her love for him is too pure.

Colas explains that she has to pretend to like someone else to get him to come back. She decides to give it a try.

Bastien shows up and thanks Colas for bringing him to his senses about his love life- but Colas tells him it's too late, Bastienne has another admirer. Colas casts a magic spell to make it better.

Bastienne arrives on the scene after Colas has left and tells Bastien it's over between them. They both threaten to go into town and find wealthy lovers and marry them and be happy forever.

Bastien threatens suicide, but Bastienne still plays it cool. She sends him away, and the two lament the loss of their love.

But then, kind of out of the blue, they're like, "Well, never mind, we do still love each other- let's start anew!" and they promise no more fighting- they are going to be true lovers to each other forever and ever and they are getting married!

Colas comes back on and sends them off hand in hand to live happily ever after. They cheer for Colas, a wonderful man. Hooray!

The end. :) It's supposed to be a parody on pastoral operas, which I guess is why they get back together so suddenly. It's hard to judge, having never seen a specimen of the parodied genre.

Well that's all for now, hope to see some of you Saturday afternoon!

Love always,
Amanda