Fontainbleau; a comic opera. In three acts

Set against the bustling backdrop of a London tavern, this comic opera opens with a lively clash of French elegance and British bravado. Mrs. Casey, the sharp‑tongued hostess, tries to keep order as flamboyant guests – from the pompous Colonel Epaulette to the roguish Lackland – demand champagne and chaos. Their banter and blunders quickly establish a world where social pretensions are ripe for ridicule, and the stage hums with the clatter of waiting staff and ringing bells.

Through witty dialogue and bright musical numbers, the piece sketches a colourful parade of characters: the boisterous Bull family, the old‑fashioned Squire Tallyho, and the ever‑scheming Lapoche, a Frenchman who becomes the target of English mockery. Their tangled pursuits and misunderstandings set the scene for a farcical romance, especially the tangled courtship of Miss Dolly and her three hopeful suitors. The opera’s charm lies in its lively satire, lively tunes, and the way it captures the spirited, sometimes absurd, social dances of its era.