Manon
Melbourne
Cast and Synopsis
Colin Peasley OAM
Our Melbourne season of Manon is dedicated to the memory of Colin Peasley OAM – a founding member of The Australian Ballet who devoted his life to our company and to the art form.
We remember Colin as a beloved artist, teacher, Ambassador for Philanthropy's Gift in Wills program, friend and advocate whose passion, spirit, sense of humour and legacy will forever be woven into the fabric of our story.
Synopsis
ACT I
France, 18th Century
Actresses, gentlemen and the demi-monde of Paris gather at the courtyard of an inn. Among them are the young student des Grieux, the wealthy Monsieur G.M. and Lescaut, who is there to meet his sister Manon on her way to enter a convent.
Manon arrives on the coach accompanied by another passenger, an Old Gentleman who is obviously attracted to her. Her brother Lescaut notices the man’s interest and takes him into the inn to come to an arrangement over Manon.
Remaining outside, Manon meets des Grieux who is immediately entranced by her. The pair fall in love and decide to run away together, helped by money Manon has stolen from the Old Gentleman. When Lescaut and the Old Gentleman return, having made their bargain, they are dismayed to discover Manon’s disappearance. Monsieur G.M. tells Lescaut that he too is interested in Manon, and, attracted to his wealth, Lescaut promises to find her and persuade her to accept Monsieur G.M.
Having escaped to Paris, des Grieux is composing a letter to his father when he is distracted by Manon, who lovingly teases him and declares her love. When he leaves to post the letter, Lescaut arrives with Monsieur G.M., who entices Manon to be his mistress with gifts of fine jewels and a fur coat. Yielding to his advances, Manon leaves with Monsieur G.M. before des Grieux returns.
Devastated by Manon’s betrayal, des Grieux is persuaded by Lescaut to allow the affair between Manon and Monsieur G.M. to reap the financial benefits.
ACT II
Paris
Monsieur G.M. arrives at a party at Madame X's hotel particulier with Manon on his arm. Dressed in expensive clothes and looking beautiful, Manon sees that des Grieux is also at the party with a drunken Lescaut.
Torn between her love for des Grieux and her desire for the wealth of her companion, Manon convinces des Grieux to cheat Monsieur G.M. at cards and win his fortune before escaping with her. Des Grieux’s cheating is quickly revealed, and the lovers escape into the night leaving Lescaut to be arrested for the crime.
Returning to des Grieux’s lodgings, the two declare their love for each other once more before Monsieur G.M. forces his way into the apartment with armed officers and Lescaut. In the ensuing struggle Monsieur G.M. has Manon arrested and Lescaut is shot and killed.
ACT III
New Orleans
The Gaoler of the Penal Colony waits at the Louisiana port for the incoming French convicts. Deported to America for crimes of prostitution, Manon, along with the other convicts, beg for mercy in this unknown land. Pretending to be Manon’s husband, des Grieux has also arrived on the ship. When the Gaoler turns his affections towards Manon, trying to win her with promises of jewels, des Grieux rushes in and kills the Gaoler. The pair escape into the Louisiana swamp.
While evading their pursuers, the lovers become lost and ultimately trapped. Unable to continue, Manon becomes delirious as images from her life appear before her. Declaring her love for des Grieux one last time, Manon collapses, dying in her lover’s arms.
Cast sheets
Select a performance
Thursday 9 October 7.00pm
Friday 10 October 7.30pm
Saturday 11 October 1.30pm
Saturday 11 October 7.30pm
Monday 13 October 6.30pm
Tuesday 14 October 7.30pm
Wednesday 15 October 7.30pm
Thursday 16 October 7.30pm
Friday 17 October 7.30pm
Saturday 18 October 1.30pm
Saturday 18 October 7.30pm
Monday 20 October 6.30pm
Tuesday 21 October 7.30pm
Wednesday 22 October 1.30pm
Wednesday 22 October 7.30pm
Manon
Grace Carroll
Des Grieux
Davi Ramos
Lescaut
Marcus Morelli
Lescaut's Mistress
Rina Nemoto
Monsieur G.M.
Adam Bull
Madame X
Gillian Revie
Gaoler
Mason Lovegrove
Old Man
Franco Leo
Lead Beggar
Luke Marchant
Courtesan
Isobelle Dashwood
Courtesan
Belle Urwin
Courtesan
Serena Graham
Courtesan
Sara Andrlon
Courtesan
Saranja Crowe
Protector
Brodie James
Protector
Drew Hedditch
Protector
Elijah Trevitt
Protector
Yichuan Wang
Protector
Matthew Paten
-
Conductor
Nathaniel Griffiths
-
Concertmaster
Sulki Yu
-
With Artists of The Australian Ballet and Orchestra Victoria
Manon
Robyn Hendricks
Des Grieux
Callum Linnane
Lescaut
Maxim Zenin
Lescaut's Mistress
Isobelle Dashwood
Monsieur G.M.
Adam Bull
Madame X
Gillian Revie
Gaoler
Joseph Romancewicz
Old Man
Franco Leo
Lead Beggar
Cameron Holmes
Courtesan
Rina Nemoto
Courtesan
Larissa Kiyoto-Ward
Courtesan
Amy Ronnfeldt
Courtesan
Mia Heathcote
Courtesan
Katherine Sonnekus
Protector
Jeremy Hargreaves
Protector
Luke Marchant
Protector
Samuel Akins
Protector
Timothy Coleman
Protector
Charlton Tough
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Sulki Yu
-
With Artists of The Australian Ballet and Orchestra Victoria
Manon
Grace Carroll
Des Grieux
Davi Ramos
Lescaut
Marcus Morelli
Lescaut's Mistress
Rina Nemoto
Monsieur G.M.
Adam Bull
Madame X
Gillian Revie
Gaoler
Mason Lovegrove
Old Man
Franco Leo
Lead Beggar
Luke Marchant
Courtesan
Isobelle Dashwood
Courtesan
Belle Urwin
Courtesan
Serena Graham
Courtesan
Sara Andrlon
Courtesan
Saranja Crowe
Protector
Brodie James
Protector
Drew Hedditch
Protector
Elijah Trevitt
Protector
Yichuan Wang
Protector
Matthew Paten
-
Conductor
Nathaniel Griffiths
-
Concertmaster
Sulki Yu
-
With Artists of The Australian Ballet and Orchestra Victoria
Manon
Benedicte Bemet
Des Grieux
Chengwu Guo
Lescaut
Cameron Holmes
Lescaut's Mistress
Katherine Sonnekus
Monsieur G.M.
Adam Bull
Madame X
Gillian Revie
Gaoler
Jarryd Madden
Old Man
Franco Leo
Lead Beggar
Drew Hedditch
Courtesan
Aya Watanabe
Courtesan
Yuumi Yamada
Courtesan
Hannah Sergi
Courtesan
Karina Arimura
Courtesan
Lilla Harvey
Protector
Joseph Romancewicz
Protector
Luke Marchant
Protector
Brodie James
Protector
Timothy Coleman
Protector
Matej Perunicic
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Yi Wang
-
With Artists of The Australian Ballet and Orchestra Victoria
Manon
Mia Heathcote
Des Grieux
Brett Chynoweth
Lescaut
Cameron Holmes
Lescaut's Mistress
Katherine Sonnekus
Monsieur G.M.
Adam Bull
Madame X
Gillian Revie
Gaoler
Jarryd Madden
Old Man
Franco Leo
Lead Beggar
Yichuan Wang
Courtesan
Aya Watanabe
Courtesan
Yuumi Yamada
Courtesan
Hannah Sergi
Courtesan
Karina Arimura
Courtesan
Lilla Harvey
Protector
Joseph Romancewicz
Protector
Drew Hedditch
Protector
Brodie James
Protector
Harrison Bradley
Protector
Matthew Paten
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Sulki Yu
-
With Artists of The Australian Ballet and Orchestra Victoria
Manon
Robyn Hendricks
Des Grieux
Callum Linnane
Lescaut
Maxim Zenin
Lescaut's Mistress
Isobelle Dashwood
Monsieur G.M.
Adam Bull
Madame X
Gillian Revie
Gaoler
Joseph Romancewicz
Old Man
Franco Leo
Lead Beggar
Cameron Holmes
Courtesan
Rina Nemoto
Courtesan
Larissa Kiyoto-Ward
Courtesan
Amy Ronnfeldt
Courtesan
Mio Bayly
Courtesan
Katherine Sonnekus
Protector
Jeremy Hargreaves
Protector
Luke Marchant
Protector
Samuel Akins
Protector
Timothy Coleman
Protector
Charlton Tough
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Sulki Yu
-
With Artists of The Australian Ballet and Orchestra Victoria
Manon
Benedicte Bemet
Des Grieux
Chengwu Guo
Lescaut
Cameron Holmes
Lescaut's Mistress
Katherine Sonnekus
Monsieur G.M.
Adam Bull
Madame X
Gillian Revie
Gaoler
Jarryd Madden
Old Man
Franco Leo
Lead Beggar
Drew Hedditch
Courtesan
Aya Watanabe
Courtesan
Yuumi Yamada
Courtesan
Hannah Sergi
Courtesan
Karina Arimura
Courtesan
Lilla Harvey
Protector
Joseph Romancewicz
Protector
Luke Marchant
Protector
Brodie James
Protector
Timothy Coleman
Protector
Matej Perunicic
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Sulki Yu
-
With Artists of The Australian Ballet and Orchestra Victoria
Manon
Grace Carroll
Des Grieux
Davi Ramos
Lescaut
Marcus Morelli
Lescaut's Mistress
Rina Nemoto
Monsieur G.M.
Adam Bull
Madame X
Gillian Revie
Gaoler
Mason Lovegrove
Old Man
Franco Leo
Lead Beggar
Luke Marchant
Courtesan
Isobelle Dashwood
Courtesan
Belle Urwin
Courtesan
Serena Graham
Courtesan
Sara Andrlon
Courtesan
Saranja Crowe
Protector
Brodie James
Protector
Drew Hedditch
Protector
Elijah Trevitt
Protector
Harrison Bradley
Protector
Matthew Paten
-
Conductor
Nathaniel Griffiths
-
Concertmaster
Yi Wang
-
With Artists of The Australian Ballet and Orchestra Victoria
Manon
Mia Heathcote
Des Grieux
Brett Chynoweth
Lescaut
Cameron Holmes
Lescaut's Mistress
Katherine Sonnekus
Monsieur G.M.
Adam Bull
Madame X
Gillian Revie
Gaoler
Jarryd Madden
Old Man
Franco Leo
Lead Beggar
Luke Marchant
Courtesan
Rina Nemoto
Courtesan
Larissa Kiyoto-Ward
Courtesan
Amy Ronnfeldt
Courtesan
Mio Bayly
Courtesan
Saranja Crowe
Protector
Joseph Romancewicz
Protector
Drew Hedditch
Protector
Brodie James
Protector
Harrison Bradley
Protector
Matthew Paten
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Sulki Yu
-
With Artists of The Australian Ballet and Orchestra Victoria
Manon
Jill Ogai
Des Grieux
Marcus Morelli
Lescaut
Cameron Holmes
Lescaut's Mistress
Larissa Kiyoto-Ward
Monsieur G.M.
Timothy Coleman
Madame X
Gillian Revie
Gaoler
Mason Lovegrove
Old Man
Franco Leo
Lead Beggar
Elijah Trevitt
Courtesan
Aya Watanabe
Courtesan
Yuumi Yamada
Courtesan
Hannah Sergi
Courtesan
Karina Arimura
Courtesan
Lilla Harvey
Protector
Jeremy Hargreaves
Protector
Luke Marchant
Protector
Samuel Akins
Protector
Yichuan Wang
Protector
Matthew Paten
-
Conductor
Nathaniel Griffiths
-
Concertmaster
Sulki Yu
-
With Artists of The Australian Ballet and Orchestra Victoria
Manon
Robyn Hendricks
Des Grieux
Callum Linnane
Lescaut
Maxim Zenin
Lescaut's Mistress
Isobelle Dashwood
Monsieur G.M.
Adam Bull
Madame X
Gillian Revie
Gaoler
Joseph Romancewicz
Old Man
Franco Leo
Lead Beggar
Cameron Holmes
Courtesan
Aya Watanabe
Courtesan
Yuumi Yamada
Courtesan
Amy Ronnfeldt
Courtesan
Mio Bayly
Courtesan
Katherine Sonnekus
Protector
Jeremy Hargreaves
Protector
Luke Marchant
Protector
Samuel Akins
Protector
Timothy Coleman
Protector
Charlton Tough
-
Conductor
Nathaniel Griffiths
-
Concertmaster
Sulki Yu
-
With Artists of The Australian Ballet and Orchestra Victoria
Manon
Mia Heathcote
Des Grieux
Brett Chynoweth
Lescaut
Cameron Holmes
Lescaut's Mistress
Katherine Sonnekus
Monsieur G.M.
Adam Bull
Madame X
Gillian Revie
Gaoler
Jarryd Madden
Old Man
Franco Leo
Lead Beggar
Yichuan Wang
Courtesan
Isobelle Dashwood
Courtesan
Belle Urwin
Courtesan
Serena Graham
Courtesan
Sara Andrlon
Courtesan
Saranja Crowe
Protector
Joseph Romancewicz
Protector
Drew Hedditch
Protector
Brodie James
Protector
Harrison Bradley
Protector
Matthew Paten
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Sulki Yu
-
With Artists of The Australian Ballet and Orchestra Victoria
Manon
Jill Ogai
Des Grieux
Marcus Morelli
Lescaut
Cameron Holmes
Lescaut's Mistress
Larissa Kiyoto-Ward
Monsieur G.M.
Timothy Coleman
Madame X
Gillian Revie
Gaoler
Mason Lovegrove
Old Man
Franco Leo
Lead Beggar
Elijah Trevitt
Courtesan
Aya Watanabe
Courtesan
Yuumi Yamada
Courtesan
Hannah Sergi
Courtesan
Mia Heathcote
Courtesan
Katherine Sonnekus
Protector
Jeremy Hargreaves
Protector
Luke Marchant
Protector
Samuel Akins
Protector
Yichuan Wang
Protector
Matthew Paten
-
Conductor
Nathaniel Griffiths
-
Concertmaster
Yi Wang
-
With Artists of The Australian Ballet and Orchestra Victoria
Manon
Grace Carroll
Des Grieux
Davi Ramos
Lescaut
Maxim Zenin
Lescaut's Mistress
Isobelle Dashwood
Monsieur G.M.
Adam Bull
Madame X
Gillian Revie
Gaoler
Mason Lovegrove
Old Man
Franco Leo
Lead Beggar
Elijah Trevitt
Courtesan
Rina Nemoto
Courtesan
Larissa Kiyoto-Ward
Courtesan
Amy Ronnfeldt
Courtesan
Karina Arimura
Courtesan
Lilla Harvey
Protector
Brodie James
Protector
Luke Marchant
Protector
Samuel Akins
Protector
Yichuan Wang
Protector
Matthew Paten
-
Conductor
Nathaniel Griffiths
-
Concertmaster
Sulki Yu
-
With Artists of The Australian Ballet and Orchestra Victoria
Manon
Robyn Hendricks
Des Grieux
Callum Linnane
Lescaut
Maxim Zenin
Lescaut's Mistress
Isobelle Dashwood
Monsieur G.M.
Adam Bull
Madame X
Gillian Revie
Gaoler
Joseph Romancewicz
Old Man
Franco Leo
Lead Beggar
Elijah Trevitt
Courtesan
Rina Nemoto
Courtesan
Larissa Kiyoto-Ward
Courtesan
Serena Graham
Courtesan
Sara Andrlon
Courtesan
Saranja Crowe
Protector
Jeremy Hargreaves
Protector
Luke Marchant
Protector
Samuel Akins
Protector
Timothy Coleman
Protector
Charlton Tough
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Yi Wang
-
With Artists of The Australian Ballet and Orchestra Victoria