Die Herzogin von Chicago
Libretto by Julius Brammer and Alfred Grünwald
Premiere: Theater an der Wien, Vienna, April 5, 1928
Act I: Mary Lloyd, the very beautiful, very rich, and very spoiled daughter of Chicago’s hot dog king, travels to Europe with her society girlfriends to see who can succeed in buying the most unobtainable item, with the winner receiving one million dollars. In a Budapest dance hall, she becomes intrigued with visiting Crown Prince Sándor Boris of Sylvaria, but throws a tantrum when he refuses her request that they dance a Charleston or fox-trot rather than a traditional waltz or polka. Sándor initially refuses Mary’s offer to buy the royal palace, but he eventually agrees, with the intention of donating all proceeds to his financially-strapped country. Mary cables her father in Chicago about the palace transaction and declares that, before long, she will also buy the Prince that goes with it—a prince who refuses to Charleston. By prearranged plan, however, Sándor is soon to marry his lisping cousin, Princess Rosemarie, who confesses to him that she has no interest in a royal husband; her attention becomes increasingly fixed on Mary’s private secretary, Mr. Bondy.
Act II: Back in Sylvaria, Mary has completely redecorated the palace to her American tastes. Sándor enters, praises the design, but nostalgically laments the end of a tradition. Mary confesses to him that she has been taking Viennese waltz lessons from the court fiddler; Sándor admits that he has been taking Charleston lessons from the band leader, whom Mary had brought with her from America. Mary’s father, Benjamin Lloyd, arrives in Sylvaria in response to her telegram. He is aghast that the daughter of Chicago’s hot dog king would even consider marrying a commonplace crown prince. Just as things are heating up between Sándor and Mary, Sándor learns from Mary’s girlfriends about the bet that they have made. Thinking that he is but a means to a big payoff for her, he announces at a big gathering that he is taking a bride—Princess Rosemarie. Incensed, Mary calls for her dance band and orders that they launch into a wild Charleston.
Act III: King Pankraz XXVII of Sylvaria arrives at the Grill Americaine in Budapest for a night on the town. A despondent Sándor enters and is told that Mary, always accompanied by the same stranger, has been frequenting the place every evening. When Mary enters, Pankraz begins flirting, going so far as to offer to share his throne with her. She manages to calm him down. When a newspaper boy announces that Princess Rosemarie has eloped with Bondy, Sándor feels a new sense of resolve. Irritated that the stranger has been staring constantly at him, Sándor finally calls him over to his table. The stranger admits that he was trying to provoke Sándor—to make him realize how much he really loves Mary. Questioned about his interest in the matter, the stranger explains that he is an American film producer making a documentary, as part of his “Films from Life” series, about Mary and her exploits. With a little prodding, Mary and Sándor reaffirm their love for each other—the film now has the required happy ending. The final curtain falls as Sándor insists on “a tender fox-trot with Mary.”
