One-act comic opera by Gian Carlo Menotti

Libretto by Gian Carlo Menotti

First performance: 18-20 February 1947, Heckscher Theatre, New York.

First performance in Bulgaria: Sofia National Opera, 1968, directed by Nikolay Nikolov

First performance in Rousse: 26 November 2007, stage direction, scenography and costumes - Simeon Simeonov, chamber stage "Opera-foyer", piano accompaniment - Bozhena Petrova

Main characters:

Lucy, soprano

Ben, baritone

Short synopsis:

In her apartment Lucy She unwraps a modest gift her beloved Ben has just brought her, a subtle hint of something important he wants to tell her. "Oh, that's just what I wanted!" she exclaims, before even looking at what the sweet package contains. At first glance, it's obvious that Ben is very much in love with the girl and, even more obviously, very embarrassed. He manages to tell Lucy that he's leaving in an hour by train, but when he gets back, he hopes... hopes... Ben has been plucking up the courage to propose marriage to Lucy for a long time, and the moment has arrived when suddenly his impulse is interrupted because someone is on the phone. It's one of Lucy's friends. What follows is a long and tedious but tension-filled few minutes for the troubled Ben, which are the usual naive and innocent but also pointlessly cheerful chatter on the phone - so common for young girls. Lucy hastily demands to know all about their friends: 'Jane and Paul are getting married next July. Isn't it funnier than you can imagine?... Well, aren't you? How's John? How's Jean? What have you heard about Ursula? And Natalie? And Rosalie? I hope she's not so cold any more...' And so on - ad infinitum... Lucy's little voice rings cheerfully and delightfully with the coloratura of merry girlish laughter. And so it goes on a little too long, for Ben's embarrassment gradually melts away and turns into an eager and now undisguised nervousness.

At last, the conversation between the young man in love and the windy girl resumes. Ben again proceeds with his proposal. But... another call follows. The number is dialed wrong, there is an error. Oh, but it reminds Lucy that she needs to make the call herself. Ben tries again... Phone again. This time it's Lucy's boyfriend, George. She comments on some rumor about him and tries in vain to defend herself from his accusations. George keeps her on the phone for a long time and soon Lucy bursts into tears and Ben clumsily tries to calm her down. When she goes into another room to get a handkerchief, Ben seriously considers cutting the phone cord. But at that moment, the phone rings again. Lucy runs out and takes the phone from Ben's hands, pouting at him that he "managed to find out her secret." Now she has to call Pamela and tell her all about George. Another long phone call. Ben despairs and decides to leave. Lucy casually remarks, "I had a feeling he was up to something..." and hangs up the phone.

Moments later it becomes clear that Ben has dialed Lucy's number, she picks up the phone and answers. He finally manages to propose marriage to her. Will she marry him? Of course! And the opera ends with a phone duet in which Ben promises he'll never forget her phone number.