Le petit Faust

[1] Gounod's opera Faust, loosely based on episodes from Goethe's drama, had first appeared in Paris in 1859 and had achieved great popularity.

Hervé had produced a number of successful operettas and with this work he and his librettists took the story and added zany comic twists to it.

However, the real Marguerite does turn up at the club, back from teaching the English how to dance the can-can, and Faust is appalled to find such an "innocent" girl in these seedy surroundings.

He is about to whisk her away in his carriage when her brother Valentin appears, back from the war, and is enraged to find Faust attempting to make her his lover.

Mephisto condemns Faust to fulfill his vow to be with the reluctant Marguerite forever, but her brother Valentin's soul is redeemed and goes to heaven.

[2][3] Le petit Faust was praised by contemporary critics for its lively and elegant music and ran for over 200 consecutive performances in its first run.