27 (2014)

Prologue Alice Knits the World

Alice B. Toklas sits in her living room at 27 rue de Fleurus and conjures the world she shared with Gertrude Stein by knitting the memories of their past back to life.

Act One 27 rue de Fleurus

Gertrude enters the salon and invites her guests to peruse her collection, praising the genius of the artists, as Alice attends to everyone. Pablo Picasso reveals his own portrait of Gertrude in a ceremony that is met with disdain by Leo Stein and a bit of jealousy by Henri Matisse. Leo announces he is moving to Italy and storms out. Gertrude and Alice toast his departure and sing of the ringing bells of genius that celebrate their love.

Act Two Zeppelins

Gertrude and Alice weather the First World War in Paris. Gertrude continues to write as the cold sets in and food becomes scarce. An American doughboy stationed in Paris becomes a friend, and provides them with coal and cigarettes, but fails to return with sought-after eggs. Another boy is added to the tally of the lost generation.

Act Three Génération Perdue

After the war, Gertrude’s attention shifts from painters to writers, now welcoming the likes of Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, and the photographer Man Ray. Ernest and Scotty are desperate for Gertrude’s endorsement so she encourages them to wrestle for her attention—she will announce the winner a genius. The writers are expelled from the salon as the next war approaches.

Act Four Gertrude Stein is Safe, Safe

Gertrude and Alice survive the Second World War by sacrificing paintings. Picasso’s portrait of Gertrude preys on her conscience, asking her to explain how a JewishAmerican authoress survived Nazi-occupied France. The guilt eats away at her and she dies in Alice’s arms.

Act Five Alice Alone

Alice, now alone, is surprised by the return of Picasso. Together they say goodbye to the portrait of Gertrude as it is being shipped off to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Picasso sketches an image of Gertrude for Alice as the bells of genius and love chime once more.

Opera Theatre of St Louis, 2014

Artists:

• Conductor - Michael Christie
• Director - James Robinson
• Gerturde Stein - Stephanie Blythe, mezzo-soprano
• Alice B. Toklas - Elizabeth Futral, soprano
• Picasso/Fitzgerald - Theo Lebow, tenor
• Leo Stein/Man Ray - Tobias Greenhalgh, baritone
• Matisse/Hemingway - Daniel Brevik, bass-baritone