Synopsis La Fanciulla del West •
The action takes place at the foot of the Cloudy Mountains during the Californian gold rush 1849–50. Minnie's saloon is a home from home and the sheriff Jack Rance assumes that one day she will be his wife. A stranger arrives in town and Minnie falls in love.
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Minnie comes in and snatches the gun. She begins her regular Bible class but it is interrupted by the Pony Express arriving with letters. Rance tells Minnie he loves her but she seems indifferent and tells him of her childhood. A stranger, Dick Johnson, appears and Rance is immediately both jealous and suspicious. Minnie diffuses the situation, vouching for Johnson. The two dance a waltz. One of Ramerrez’ gang, Castro, has been captured and pretends he will lead Rance to the bandit’s hiding–place. Castro manages to whisper to Johnson that there will be a signal – a whistle – which Johnson should answer. Then the gang will attack the saloon and steal the miners’ gold. Minnie and Johnson are alone. They talk about their lives and Minnie explains she would protect with her life the gold the miners have left in her trust. Johnson is in love Nick interrupts and a whistle is heard but Johnson ignores it. Minnie invites him to her log–cabin. DINNER INTERVAL ACT 2 MINNIE'S LOG CABIN Minnie is with her servant Wowkle and Billy Jackrabbit waiting for Johnson to arrive. Johnson appears and asks her why she lives in such solitude. She explains her pleasures of the life she
There is a knock at the door and Minnie urges Johnson to hide. Rance, Ashby, Nick and Sonora have followed Ramerrez’s trail to the cabin. Rance tells Minnie that Johnson is the bandit Ramerrez, whose photograph he was shown by Ramerrez’s mistress, Nina Micheltorena. Minnie sends the men away. Hurt and enraged, Minnie turns on Ramerrez/Johnson. He tries to explain why he became a criminal. God may forgive him for being a bandit, she says, but she will not forgive him for deceiving her. She tells him to leave.
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A group settle down to a game of cards and Sid is caught cheating. The others want to lynch him but the sheriff intervenes and pins a card on Sid’s chest as a warning never to play again. Ashby, of the Wells Fargo Trading Company, arrives and tells Rance that for three months he has been on the trail of a robber and outlaw, Ramerrez. A quarrel breaks out between Rance and Sonora about who will become Minnie’s husband. Sonora shoots, but another miner deflects his aim.
can lead here and they fall into each others’ arms. It is snowing so heavily that Minnie persuades Johnson not to leave.
Immediately Ramerrez is outside, he is shot by Rance. Overcome, Minnie drags him back inside and helps him to hide. Rance has a hunch that the criminal is here and Minnie mockingly tells him to search the place. In a fit of jealously he tries to embrace her and swears she will never have her new lover. Blood drips from the ceiling: Rance knows that Johnson is in the loft. Knowing Rance’s passion for gambling, Minnie despairingly proposes a game of poker. If Rance wins, he can take Minnie for himself and can turn Ramerrez in. If he loses, he must let the lovers go free. Rance agrees. By brazen cheating, Minnie triumphs and Rance leaves. ACT 3 THE FOREST Under Minnie’s care, Ramerrez has recovered and left. It is dawn and Rance and Nick sadly discuss Minnie’s love for Ramerrez. The bandit is caught and the miners decide to string him up there and then. Ramerrez begs them never to reveal to Minnie the way he died but to let her think he has gone away to make a fresh start. At the last moment Minnie appears. She pleads with the miners to spare her lover, reminding them of all the years she has cared for them. There is no sinner in the world who cannot find redemption. Ramerrez is set free and the couple leave for a new life.
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ACT 1 THE POLKA SALOON It is evening and the miners are arriving at Minnie's saloon to drink and gamble. From afar we hear a strolling minstrel, Jake Wallace, singing of the miners’ homesickness. Larkens breaks down, unable to take any more of the harsh mining life. The others give him money to go home.