 MARTIN GUERRE
(A Musical Love Story) Lyrics by Edward Hardy & Stephen
Clark with additional lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer & Alain
Boublil
Music by Ckaude-Michel Schönberg : Book by Alain Boublil
and Claude-Michel Schönberg
Prince Edward Theatre, London - 10 June, 1996
Revised version Prince Edward Theatre, London - 11 November, 1996
to 28 February, 1998
Synopsis
1560, on a battlefield somewhere in France a mercenary soldier
in the Catholic army. Martin Guerre, tells his friend Arnaud
du Thil the story of his childhood. Seven years ago in Artigat
when he was only a youth, his Uncle Pierre Guerre, a rich landowner.
arranged for him to marry Bertrande de Rols.
The small community rejoiced and waited for Bertrande to give
the family an heir but the young Martin did not consummate
the marriage. Constant rain threatened the crops and Guillaume,
who was secretly in love with Bertrande convinced the Superstitious
villagers that Bertrande's failure to conceive was the work
of Satan. Martin became the scapegoat and was ritually beaten
by the priest Father Dominic to exorcise the Devil. Bitter
and humiliated he left Bertrande and the village to start a
new life.
Arnaud now urges Martin to return home but they are suddenly
attacked by the Protestant army. Shielding Arnaud, Martin is
stabbed and is left for dead on the battlefield.
In Artigat, Bertrande is under pressure to remarry and take
Guillaume as her new husband. The crops are now threatened
by drought. Just as the village blamed Martin for the deluge
they now blame Bertrande for no rain. A stranger appears and
asks Benoit, the village idiot, to go and look for Bertrande.
As if by a miracle a thunderclap is heard presaging rain. The
newcomer is Arnaud du Thil who has come to bring Bertrande
news of Martin's death, but he is hailed as the prodigal son
by the villagers before he is able to say who he really is.
Alone with Bertrande, Arnaud confesses the truth but as he
tries to leave he is blocked by villagers who will not let
him go. The relationship between Bertrande and Arnaud slowly
deepens and when eventually they become lovers she confesses
that she is now a Protestant and takes him to witness their
secret worship. Guillaume spies on them and realises that this
is his opportunity for revenge. He incites Pierre and the villagers
against the Protestants. As Guillaume threatens to kill Arnaud,
Benoit, hoping to save him, blurts out, "He is not Martin
Guerre". On the orders of Pierre Guerre Arnaud is arrested
and sent for trial. Meanwhile Martin Guerre has survived his
near fatal injury and is on his way back to Artigat.
Arnaud is brought to trial still claiming to be Martin. A
succession of witnesses is called. Bertrande speaks movingly
of the man she loves but avoids declaring his name. Hate intensifies
between Catholics and Protestants. The judge is about to dismiss
the case for lack of evidence when a last minute witness asks
to be heard. Martin Guerre is home to denounce the impostor
who has stolen his name. The judge returns his verdict which
is that Arnaud's sentence is for Martin to decide and Bertrande
is returned to her legal husband.
Artigat burns in the eruption of violence that follows. In
the name of their friendship Martin frees the lovers, but,
before they can escape, Arnaud is stabbed shielding Martin
from Guillaume's knife and dies in Bertrande's arms.
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