Our Millennium production took an alternative and very light-hearted look at the way part of history was formed. Based (very loosely!) on the story of Paris and Helen of Troy, La Belle Hélène tells how Paris awarded the golden apple to Venus, was promised the love of Helen in return, and how he eloped with her from Sparta. The details omitted by more traditional historians include how Sparta's Chief Augur aided and abetted the elopement, and how Paris was assisted by the lack of intelligence among the assembled Greek kings… The operetta was composed in 1864, six years after Orpheus in the Underworld and two years before La Vie Parisienne (our 1996 production).

SETTING
The action takes place, without any regard for credibility, in unspecified Ancient Times - in a very unlikely Ancient Greece.

Paris, prince of Troy, awards a golden apple to Venus as the fairest goddess on Olympus and as a reward is promised the love of the most beautiful woman in the world. In Sparta, all the citizens (except King Menelaus) hear the tale and wait eagerly for Paris's arrival to claim Queen Helen.

Paris arrives in Sparta and immediately he and Helen are attracted to each other. Paris wins a challenge set by Calchas against the other Greek Kings, and is invited to the palace by Menelaus as his reward. Helen and Paris suggest to Calchas that it would be far better if Menelaus were removed from the scene. Obligingly, Calchas orders stage thunder from the Temple and announces that the gods decree Menelaus must forthwith spend a month in Crete. Menelaus obediently departs, leaving Paris with Helen.

Pride on both sides prevents either Helen or Paris making the first move, yet to fulfil Venus's promise the two of them must meet. Orestes and Nesta contrive to get them together, but just as Paris arrives, he and Helen are interrupted by the three Kings who accuse Calchas of cheating at cards.

Once the dispute has been settled, Calchas lulls Helen to sleep before she is awoken by Paris. Allowing herself to believe it is only a dream, the seduction proceeds. Menelaus returns unexpectedly and catches Helen and Paris together. Outraged, he summons the other Kings and the Court to witness his wife's infidelity, but is taken aback when everyone tells him that a wise husband should announce his impending return to his wife, thereby gallantly avoiding any possible unpleasantness. Paris is banished from Sparta.

Everyone goes on holiday to the seaside, despite considerable tension between Helen and Menelaus over Paris. Calchas arranges for Paris and Helen to meet again, and Paris reveals to Helen that he has plans for their elopement. Agamemnon tells his brother Menelaus that he must give Helen up to Paris, since Venus is becoming angry at the obstruction to her plans.

Menelaus objects to this idea, but crafty Calchas suggests that Helen should be permitted to visit the Grand Augur on Cythera to offer a sacrifice to Venus. The golden galley bearing the Grand Augur arrives to take Helen to Cythera. Only Calchas knows that the Grand Augur is in fact Paris in disguise. As the galley sails, Paris reveals his true identity to the astonishment and dismay of all present.