Le Jongleur de Notre Dame
SYNOPSIS
The story of "Le Jongleur de Notre Dame" (The Juggler of Notre Dame) is
based upon the old medieval Miracle plays that flourished up to the
middle of the Sixteenth Century and which consisted of a quaint admixture
of the purely mundane, with the supernatural.
ACT I
The people of one of the suburbs of Paris--Cluny, are celebrating
May Day on the Square in front of the Monks' Abbey. An itinerant
Juggler, --Jean arrives. The crowd is not impressed and they laugh at
Jean's old, worn out tricks. The crowd demans a drinking song and, as it
is the only way Jean can earn a penny, he agrees. First, Jean asks for
the pardon of the Holy Virgin for the song he is about to sing, then
leads the crowd in a rousing chorus singing the glories of wine! The
Prior interrupts the merriment and singing, scattering the crowd of
revelers and sternly threatens Juggler Jean with hell-fire if he does not
mend his ways. The Prior questions the juggler and asks him to consider
becoming a monk instead of a juggling vagabond. Jean pleads for his
liberty. Just then, Boniface, the cook of the Abbey comes by with his
donkey laden with provisions and mounds of food. An empty stomach gnawed
with hunger by the sight of so much good food makes Jean come to a sudden
resolution. For the sake of food and security Jean decides to follow in
the religious life of a monk and enters the abbey.
ACT II
Inside the abbey each Monk is working at their avocations. The
Musician Monk is rehearsing a new Cantata for the Feast of the Virgin.
Jean regrets that he cannot praise the Virgin, too, because he doesn't
know Latin and she wouldn't understand him in his vulgar French. The
monks get in a disagreement over the comparative superiority of their
respective arts. The Sculptor Monk says his is the greatest art. The
painter contends his is the noblest of arts. The Poet and the Musician
join in the dispute and nearly come to blows when the Prior orders them
all to the chapel to practise humility. Jean deplores his ignorance to
the abbey cook Boniface complaining that he can do nothing artistic to
please the Virgin. Boniface tells him a story how once the most humble
of flowers, sage, saved the life of Jesus when pursued by the King
child-killer. Boniface also confides that his cooking is his offering to
the Virgin. Jean is convinced, at last, that his humble prayers--even in
French--may reach as high as those of the proudest.
ACT III
The Painter Monk is taking a satisfied glance at his picture of
the Virgin, over the high altar, when he sees Jean enter dressed in his
juggler's costume. Puzzled, the monk goes to notify the Prior. Jean
tells the Virgin that, as he know nothing else, he will go through his
whole performance in her honor. Now and then he interrupts himself to
tell her that some of his songs are hardly appropriate for her ears, but
that he means to be entirely respectful. The Prior comes in unseen by
Jean and watches his performance. He is greatly scandalized but is
restrained from interfering by Boniface. The other monks come in and,
when they See Jean going through his dance, cry Sacrilege! Just as they
can contain themselves no longer the face of the Virgin in the painting
is seen to grow animated and her arms are extended toward Jean, now deep
in prayer. Miracle! They all cry and as the kneel about Jean a great
light envelops the figure of the Virgin, angels surround her and
celestial voices are heard. Jean, murmuring that, at last he understands
Latin, dies in the Prior's arms.
contributed by
Jeffrey A. Klingfuss; ©
1998
Monday, 08-Dec-2003 21:46:23 PST