The Map
Scenario
Background;
L'enclos- in the 1600's a famous intellectual Frenchwoman and Charles- once her lover and longtime best friend/confidant/correspondent.
They subscribe to a form of Epicureanism current in their day, mostly one of pleasure.

There's 2 other people a man Duc, and woman Prin. As teens they dated, there was a car accident- he limps and has lost all memory of the accident/his past and she is blind.
As young adults they have found/hired/sought out L'en and Charles as guides, ostensibly to help them find lovers but the guides know it is to find themselves.
Overture; Subtle but unknown

Scene 1; The guides
This introduces the guides (L'en & Charles) and how they view the world. They discuss how to help/advise two young people.
Whether this piece is presented as opera or oratorically they begin center stage and at the end move to opposite sides of the stage.
The 4 'main' characters should be in bright colors the SATB in neutral colors. When all 8 singers are townspeople, or one of the main characters is playing a townsperson (Scenes 6,11,12), they all should be in neutral colors.
When all 8 singers are townspeople, or one of the main characters is playing a townsperson (Scenes 6,11,12), they all should be in neutral colors.

Scene 2; He/She Looks
Introduces the two young people
Are Prin & Duc singing about each other?- yes but since neither really sees the other – no.
At the end of this scene Prin & Duc are at the opposite sides of the stage from where they began.

Scene 3; Lead me please
The two young people ask the two Epicureans for help/advice. Prin is speaking to L'en stage right, Duc to Charles stage left.
When either pair is singing alone (like in scene 4) they move a bit closer to center but not all the way.

Scene 4; I wish to marry
Prin says she wants to get married and L'en asks why? Then L'en explains her way of life

Scene 5; I wish to see the future
Duc's turn to say what he thinks he wants and two 'friends' explain that that's not exactly how life works.
Tenor & Baritone are bit players like Rosencrantz and Guldenstern. The scene is of 3 students slightly drunk sitting on a cliff looking out over the city below.

Scene 6; What kind of map is this?
This scene introduces the maps (projected behind Prin & Duc). Prin's map is the D'Scudery map of love, Duc's is a map of Marseilles.
One possibility is an tablet like device or even a smartphone (but that's rather small) Each map should have a sort of 'you are here' spot lit on them. This light should move as they move along their paths to themselves.

Scene 7; Public Square (gossip)
The townspeople are mingling in the Square, gossiping about a couple who 'fell in love!”
Even if sung as an oratorio all the singers should be moving about, turning to one another as they sing/respond. As a way of accentuating how Prin & Duc are not on the same path to one another either explicitly (drawn on the floor with lines) or choreographically each of the 8 should have their own 'lane' which they exit only by a high step as if crossing a fence.

Scene 8a; Beauty 1
This scene sets up the fact that Duc must use his eyes, use his mind and learn to “see”. Charles is pushing him to remember.
Highlight a spot on the map with a park.
Scene 8b; The Maze
Are the townspeople building a wall, a maze, a representation of The Map?
Similar to Public Square but maybe passing in a long line some kind of building block?
Scene 8c; end of scene
Duc seems to have learned something.
Highlight a spot on the map with a park.

Scene 9; the cliche
The lyrics are built from nearly every love song (esp. C. Porter) ever used in the 20th century.
A tenor is kneeling before Prin and singing a 'love' song....this is supposed to be played for laughs.

Scene 10; The Gatekeeper
The Baritone is standing centerstage with a 'stop' sign. Duc is stymied and then as the scene progresses he begins to understand how to make what he wants work for him.
Duc has his 'map' and projected is the lane straight straight and sometimes projected is a map showing that the straight road just goes on and on. When the gatekeeper touches the device the images go white.

Scene 11; Neglect
Prin discovers her lover has been unfaithful and a liar.
This and scene 13 are references to the Map of Love locations and should be highlit during these two scenes. It's preferable that L'en not be on stage but heard.

Scene 12; The march
Entire cast enters as though for a ball.
followed by...A Waltz The 4 women are dancing around Duc as individual prospects for his sole attention. He has learned the art of diplomacy and how to be kind, he is no longer a seducer/flirt and he is not interested in these 'prospects'.

Scene 13; The lake of Indifference
As in Scene 11- A new suitor, declares much like the suitor, that he loves her. But his love is a fantasy and not for the reality of who Prin has been learning she is.

Scene 14; Dream
Prin has awakened due to Scenes 9, 11 and 13. She has found herself.
This is not a sad song but one where she has found her strength.

Scene 15; Escape - Finalé
Duc found his strength and wisdom in scene 10 and has seen the folly of seduction in scene 12. And now he wants to get on with his life.