Cigale

About the show

The story is inspired by Jean de la Fontaine's fable La cigale et la fourmi (a version of The Ant and the Grasshopper), and portrays "Cigale" (Cicada) as a charitable young woman who takes pity on "La Pauvrette" (The Poor Girl) and gives away her breakfast, bonnet and red umbrella, and finally her money. She is then ridiculed for her kindness by "Madame Fourmi" (Madam Ant), ticketed by "Le Garçon de Banque" (The Banker), and seduced by her "Petit Ami" (The Boyfriend). On a cold winter's night, Cigale, whose kindness and carefree nature has led her to lose what little she has, is refused shelter by Madame Fourmi. Her lover and the poor girl enter and dance under her red umbrella. She falls to the grounds and dies in the snow grasping her guitar but the ballet ends with her ascending to heaven with the angels.