Raise a glass to history with 鈥淢adame Clicquot: A Revolutionary Musical鈥�
Courtesy of the Pittsburgh CLO
How many of us have strolled through our local wine and spirits shop around New Year’s Eve, noticed the words Veuve Clicquot inscribed on a large selection of champagne bottles and never gave it a second thought?
Once you learn the story of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot, you may never look at a bottle of champagne the same way again.
That story will unfold onstage at the Byham Theater through Sunday when the Pittsburgh CLO, in association with 42nd Parallel Productions, presents “Madame Clicquot: A Revolutionary Musical.”
Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, the musical tells the story of a young woman who fled her boarding school when a revolution engulfed France. A decade later, an unexpected and innovative partnership in winemaking would test Clicquot’s resolve, cause her to tackle the male-dominated world of champagne and ultimately transform the industry.
Telling the story
Richard Walter and Lisette Glodowski, who joined forces to write the musical, reveal what drew them to the remarkable woman known as “The Widow Clicquot,” or the “Grande Dame of Champagne.”
Walter and Glodowski met at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, the highly acclaimed university for performing, cinematic, and media arts.
“Clicquot’s legacy is everywhere in the world and is symbolized by that iconic orange label that became synonymous with celebrations,” said Walter.
One of Clicquot’s most influential inventions was known as the Riddling Table and turned the champagne industry on its head. Riddling is a process where champagne bottles are rotated manually to move sediment to the neck of the bottle so it can be disgorged. Clicquot designed wooden frames with angled holes to hold the bottles and forever changed the industry.
“Clicquot had moments of creativity and ingenuity that were really remarkable,” said Walter. “One memorable moment is when the Russian soldiers were pillaging wine cellars and she said, ‘Maybe we just give them some wine.'” In the end, the diplomacy worked, leaving most of her best vintages untouched.
The writing duo said that learning about Clicquot’s story was enough to inspire the songs that burst forth. “The songs came out really quickly and we are excited to see a full production,” said Glodowski, adding that a smaller, concert production took place in Hilton Head, S.C., and was well received.
Glodowski’s family ties to Pittsburgh – her grandfather founded the business training college that is now Point Park University – made the region a natural fit for a story rooted in grit and determination.
“Pittsburgh is a city of makers and small businesses and that spirit appealed to CLO,” she said. “It’s a story about working against the odds.”
Starring in the musical
Victoria Frings, who plays Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, has an extensive background in regional and New York theater and said she knew immediately that it was a story which deserved to be told.
“When I read the script, I was overwhelmed by the complexity of the character,” Frings said. “In one scene I had to go from crying to singing in the wake of the husband’s death. It’s a challenge to go from crying to singing-being happy one moment and devastated the next,” she said.
Paolo Montalban who is best known as Prince Christopher in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella and Kung Lao in Mortal Kombat: Conquest, plays Louis Bohne in the musical. Bohne’s job is to work with Clicquot to expand the wine business internationally.
Montalban’s initial reaction to the script was to be in awe of Clicquot’s mark on the wine and branding industries. “The history is both deep and engaging and we learn about all the sacrifices she made along the way,” said Montalban, adding that audiences will find it suspenseful too.
A timeless message
What Frings, Montalban, Walter and Glodowski all hope audiences will take away from the musical is the message to hold on to your dreams-despite the obstacles.
“Writing this show has changed how I look at people; everyone has a backstory,” Walter said.
The message for Montalban is about claiming your space. “Don’t allow yourself to be invisible even though the world may want you to be. Step into your light and pursue your dreams,” he said.
To learn more about prices and times and to purchase tickets, visit the Pittsburgh CLO website at https://www.pittsburghclo.org/.
Stephanie Kalina-Metzger is a freelance writer.