ENGA11H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Institute For Operations Research And The Management Sciences, Bookkeeping
Document Summary
The play opens inside the grand balcony, a brothel in which customers may dress up to portray their fantasies. Irma, the owner, coordinates the busy schedule as men masquerade as a bishop, judge, and a general. Meanwhile, the streets outside are in the midst of open warfare as rebels claim more of the city. The only remaining protection of the brothel is george, the chief of police and irma"s lover. Carmen, a former whore who is now a bookkeeper for the brothel, confesses to irma that she misses being a whore. She"s also upset that irma doesn"t allow the women to talk about their jobs. Irma is distracted by the absence of george but agrees that carmen can play a pivotal role in an upcoming appointment. Irma asks carmen about the other girls at the brothel, especially chantal who has joined the rebellion. George shows up claiming that the royal palace has been surrounded and that the queen is hiding.