leave her again, and he says he can’t promise that, that he might marry one day. At that moment, he appears dressed as a bridegroom, and Illona goes berserk, attempting to get to the bridal bouquet he is holding over his head. Max comes back into the room, and in frustration, Illona tears his bouquet for the bridesmaid to shreds. She continues to demolish methodically the entire room, breaking and ripping everything she can get her hands on, all the while threatening to get vengeance on them all. Franz, Anatol’s manservant, enters the room, calmly stepping over piles of debris to announce to Anatol that his carriage is ready. Max promises to stay behind and take care of Illona, who Anatol concludes is “still wild about me.” Illona tells Max that she intends to go and stop the wedding, but Max convinces her that her best revenge is to wait, because, knowing Anatol as they both do, he is sure he will return to her soon, since deceiving his bride is inevitable and only a matter of time. Illona relishes the thought of how she’ll make him suffer and beg when he does come back. Illona sweeps out of the room as the music and mood suddenly become quite melancholy. Max laments the end of their youthful romantic adventures. “Only Time Will Tell” Max cautions as the scene ends. In the final scene, Anatol is now 52 years old, and has invited Max to meet him at an old café on the outskirts of Vienna, after many years of being apart. Anatol tells Max he needs him to hear his heart’s last will and testament as he renounces love. Yet, he tells Max the story of how he recently spied a beautiful young singer, Annette, walking with her young poet lover, Flieder. Their eyes meet, and Anatol knows that Annette yearns for him. But, he says sadly to Max, he will not bother or even envy the young their love. Max and Anatol remind themselves that the dizzying heights of young love are not for the older and wiser, such as themselves. Anatol says he misses "the exquisite pleasure of one last sorrow,” though, as they hear noise in the background. It is the aging dandy Baron Diebel and his entourage from the Redoute, coming closer. The Baron invites Anatol and Max to join them, because once they were the greatest lovers in Vienna, and he is sending the beautiful young singer Annette out to them, because she wants to meet Anatol. The Baron claims that he is really a very moral and prim man despite his great love of women, wine and song. Max goes in to the party with the Baron as Annette approaches Anatol and boldly flirts with him. She claims that although she loves Flieder, she also needs to be with people and to “throw herself into life” and to be wild and bold. Anatol cautions Annette that “to love a great many is to love no one at all.” He tells her “I needed to be in love” too, and that being a lover was once his “art.” Annette tries to tempt Anatol to go with her to the forest to a place he once knew where lovers “can hear each other’s heartbeats.” She tries to convince him to make love to her but Flieder, her young poet lover, comes looking for her. Despite Annette’s urging Anatol to come away with her and her promise “ to make him young again,” Anatol hands Annette over to Flieder and she takes him to the garden and the stream in the forest, because she needs to make love. As the young couple departs, Annette flings a primrose at Anatol’s feet which he picks up and, standing centre stage, sticks in his lapel. Max sings a reprise of “The Game of Love” as all the various women from Anatol’s past appear and begin to circle around him, joining in the song. The lights fade. CAST: - 2 principal men, 5 principal women, chorus of 4 men who double. • Anatol - charming, civilized, into romantic trouble; - baritone • Annette - a beautiful young girl, playful • Annie - a giddy music hall singer, loves food • Baron Diebel - an aging Casanova, free spirited • Cora - an experienced woman • Flieder, a young poet * • Franz, Anatol's manservant/ butler* • Fritz, Franz, the Baron and Flieder play a variety of ensemble roles: peddlers, waiters, servants. They are also recommended to change the sets and props • Fritz - a music hall singer • Gabrielle - a secretly discontented married lady • Illona - a famous actress, insecure, romantic • Max - his friend, clever, mirthful, sentimental; - baritone
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