Synopsis

Music by Johann Strauss II
Text by Carl Haffner and Richard Genée

Setting: A spa town, near a big city

Act 1: Eisenstein’s house

Rosalinde’s one time suitor Alfred serenades Rosalinde from off-stage. Rosalinde’s maid Adele enters and reads a letter from her sister inviting her to a party at prince Orlofsky’s. Adele longs to go and contrives an excuse to leave. She tells Rosalinde her aunt is sick and that she needs the night off to look after her. But Rosalinde won’t consider it. Her husband Eisenstein is due in jail that night and Adele must stay.

Alfred enters and Rosalinde tells him to leave. Alfred agrees to go on the condition that he may come back when Eisenstein is in jail. Rosalinde consents.

Eisenstein enters with his stammering lawyer Dr Blind. Eisenstein is furious with Blind. They have been at court trying to reduce Eisenstein’s sentence. But the sentence has been lengthened instead. Eisenstein blames Dr Blind for the bungle and Dr Blind blames Eisenstein. They argue and Dr Blind is told to leave.

Eisenstein’s friend Falke arrives and persuades Eisenstein to go to Prince Orlofsky’s. He tells Eisenstein his sentence can wait until the morning. Eisenstein is reluctant to go but the prospect of young, beautiful actresses and ballet dancers wins him over. Eisenstein and Falke rejoice in anticipation of the night ahead.

Rosalinde enters and finds Falke and Eisenstein dancing and singing. Rosalinde is alarmed by Eisenstein’s behavior and is further alarmed when, after Falke’s departure, Eisenstein proceeds to put on his best suit. Eisenstein explains that the jail is exclusive and that he’ll likely be among high society there. Rosalinde, more worried about her evening rendezvous than Eisenstein’s activities, accepts the explanation.

Rosalinde tells Adele she can take the night off after all. All three go their separate ways after feigning great sadness for the loss of one another’s company.

Alfred arrives and puts on Eisenstein’s dressing-gown and night cap and begins drinking. Frank, the prison warden, arrives to escort Eisenstein to jail. He figures Alfred to be Eisenstein. Rosalinde implores Alfred to play along. Frank escorts Alfred to jail.

Act 2: Prince Orlofsky’s villa

All are enjoying themselves but Orlofsky. Orlofsky is terrifically bored but Falke has promised him entertainment. Falke tells him a farce called “The bat’s revenge” will play out during the party. The actors are introduced over the course of the evening: first, the actress Olga (actually Adele); second, Marquis Renard (actually Eisenstein); third, Chevalier Chagrin (actually Frank); and finally, a Hungarian Countess (actually Rosalinde).

Adele’s invitation it turns out has come from Falke, who has invited Adele and given her the identity of an actress in order to drive Eisenstein and her jokingly into each other’s arms. Falke has sent a letter to Rosalinde stating that Eisenstein will be at the party, and Falke hopes that Adele’s and Eisenstein’s closeness will infuriate Rosalinde.

Rosalinde arrives masked and finds Eisenstein flirting with Adele. Eisenstein leaves Adele and approaches Rosalinde. He proceeds to charm her as best he can. Rosalinde steals his watch to prove his infidelity in the morning.

Orlofsky asks about the bat story he was promised. Eisenstein chimes in that it was a joke he played on Falke three years ago: Eisenstein and Falke went to a masked ball; Falke wore a bat suit; Eisenstein got Falke drunk, then left him sleeping in the forest; when Falke walked home, everyone laughed at his ridiculous costume. All toast to a future revenge, then a waltz begins. Afterward, Frank and Eisenstein, realizing how late it is, hastily leave Orlofsky’s.

Act 3: The prison

The jailor Frosch talks to himself in between slugs of slivovitz and yells at Alfred, who is singing, to be quiet. Frank enters drunk and stumbles through the memories of the evening. Frosch tells him that a Marquis wants to see him and that Alfred has asked for a lawyer.

Eisenstein arrives and explains that he is not the marquis but actually Eisenstein. Frank takes it as a joke and explains that he locked up Eisenstein the night before.

Dr Blind enters. Eisenstein steals Dr Blind’s glasses and wig and, disguised as Dr Blind, approaches Alfred and Rosalinde, who has just arrived. Alfred and Rosalinde tell Dr Blind the details of Alfred’s imprisonment and ask him how they can arrange Alfred’s release without making their affair public. Eisenstein criticizes their behavior. Rosalinde is taken back by his lack of impartiality. To sway his sympathy, she tells him of her husband’s transgressions at Orlofsky’s. No longer able to repress his anger, Eisenstein reveals himself. Rosalinde then produces his watch. 

Falke enters and explains the ruse, taking credit for all the night’s events including Alfred’s visit with Rosalinde. And everything unaccounted for is found to be the fault of the champagne.