Discover Ashton's Ballet
La Fille mal gardée
Ashton’s much-loved evocation of English rural bliss.
Introduction | Synopsis | Characters
Introduction
La Fille mal gardée has a long history on the ballet stage. It was first performed in the 1780s, when it was set to an assortment of French songs and melodies. It passed through several further versions before Frederick Ashton recreated it for The Royal Ballet in 1960. The new score is adapted and arranged by John Lanchbery from the music of Ferdinand Hérold.
Despite its French pedigree, Ashton’s ballet is resoundingly English in mood. Renderings of the maypole, morris and clog dances recall an idyll of rural England treasured by the choreographer. The ballet is a pastoral elegy to the serenity of a simple life.
The gentle plot concerns a handsome young farm boy who woos a farmer's daughter – the fille mal gardée or wayward daughter of the title. They have to outwit a disapproving mother, played by a male dancer, leading to many comic complications along the way. Love wins out in the end, of course, when Lise and Colas are joyfully united.
Read more: 'My conception of La Fille mal gardée' by Frederick Ashton, La Fille mal gardée in its original historical context.
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Synopsis
The village beauty Lise and farm boy Colas are in love and want to marry, but Lise’s mother, Widow Simone, disapproves. She has arranged to marry Lise off to Alain, the simple son of a wealthy vineyard owner.
Widow Simone keeps a beady eye on Lise, to keep her away from Colas. But the old lady is outwitted by the young lovers at every turn; they find every opportunity to flirt and kiss behind her back.
It is harvest time, and after working in the fields, the harvesters dance round a maypole. Widow Simone then performs her celebrated clog dance. They are interrupted by a storm and everyone rushes for shelter. Poor Alain clings on to his prized new red umbrella.
Soaked by the storm, Widow Simone and Lise return to the farmhouse. Widow Simone falls asleep, but is awoken by the harvesters coming in to collect their pay. She leaves to give them drinks.
Left on her own, Lise dreams of marriage and children. To her embarrassment, Colas, who has been hiding, jumps out and surprises her. Lise is bashful at first, but they once again declare their love for each other, exchanging scarves as a token.
Widow Simone is heard approaching and Colas hides upstairs in Lise's room. Widow Simone returns and orders Lise to put her wedding dress on, ready for her imminent wedding to Alain. Lise is horrified but her mother pushes her upstairs into the bedroom and locks the door.
Alain and his father arrive with a notary to complete the marriage contract. When it has been signed, Simone gives Alain the bedroom key. As he opens it up he is stunned to find Lise with Colas.
The lovers beg Widow Simone for forgiveness. She relents, gives the couple her blessing and, in spite of Thomas and Alain, joins in the general rejoicing.
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Characters
Lise: La fille mal gardée, (the wayward daughter). She secretly meets her handsome young lover despite her mother’s disapproval.
Colas: Lise’s sweetheart who finds new and ever-more inventive ways of seeing her. Love wins out when he marries Lise.
Widow Simone: Lise’s mother, traditionally danced by a man. She guards Lise closely and arranges to marry her off to a rich suitor.
Alain: Lise’s rich but simple suitor. He seems rather more interested in his red umbrella than in Lise.
Thomas: Alain’s father, the rich vineyard owner who arranges his son’s marriage to Lise.
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