Plot
In the small town of Brachen, Switzerland, the townspeople are poor. They are told that Claire Zachanassian, a former resident and now the world's richest women (by virtue of many fortunate marriages), will pay a visit. The townspeople see Claire as their last hope ("Out of the Darkness"). Claire, who has an artificial leg, arrives in a puff of train steam, carried by Jacob Chicken and Louis Perch, (freed from jail by Claire). She is escorted by her entourage: the falsetto-singing eunuchs Lenny and Benny, her butler Rudi and her latest much-younger husband Evgeny. ("At Last", "I Walk Away"). Anton, the town's shopkeeper and Claire's former lover still has feelings for her, and thinks that they might renew their romance ("I Know Claire"). Although Claire and Anton reminisce about their youthful affair, and the Young Anton and Young Claire dreamily dance ("You, You, You"), Claire soon reveals her macabre plan. Claire explains that she was pregnant by Anton as a teen, but because of Anton's false testimony, was forced to leave the town. She explains that the true purpose of her visit is to seek revenge, and offers to give the people billions if they will kill Anton.
The townspeople are at first repelled, but gradually rationalize their desire for material possessions ("Yellow Shoes"). Anton ultimately realizes that he is to blame for the misery that Claire has endured, and accepts responsibility ("Fear"). He and his family take one last joyful car-ride together ("A Car Ride"), and Claire and Anton make peace with the fate to come ("In the Forest Again"). The townspeople murder Anton ("Finale").
Read more about this topic: The Visit (musical)
Famous quotes containing the word plot:
“The plot was most interesting. It belonged to no particular age, people, or country, and was perhaps the more delightful on that account, as nobody’s previous information could afford the remotest glimmering of what would ever come of it.”
—Charles Dickens (1812–1870)
“The westward march has stopped, upon the final plains of the Pacific; and now the plot thickens ... with the change, the pause, the settlement, our people draw into closer groups, stand face to face, to know each other and be known.”
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924)
“The plot! The plot! What kind of plot could a poet possibly provide that is not surpassed by the thinking, feeling reader? Form alone is divine.”
—Franz Grillparzer (1791–1872)