Irma La Douce

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"Irma La Douce" is a romantic comedy musical set in Paris during the early 1960s. The story follows Nestor Patou, a naive and honest police officer who is assigned to clean up the streets of the city's red-light district, Pigalle. While on patrol, Nestor meets Irma, a beautiful and charismatic streetwalker, and the two quickly fall in love.

Nestor decides to save Irma from her life as a prostitute and becomes her pimp, taking on the persona of a wealthy British gentleman, Lord X. He rents an apartment for Irma and transforms her into a respectable lady, but his disguise soon becomes too difficult to maintain. When Irma discovers Nestor's true identity, she feels betrayed and their relationship is put to the test.

As the plot unfolds, we see the couple navigate their love for each other while struggling to find a way to be together without facing the consequences of Nestor's illegal activities. The musical is known for its witty humor, catchy songs, and charming characters, including Bob Le Hotu, a colorful bar owner, and Hippolyte, a fellow police officer who is in love with Nestor.

"Irma La Douce" features a lively score by Marguerite Monnot and lyrics by Alexandre Breffort. The musical has been staged numerous times since its premiere in 1956, with several revivals on Broadway and in the West End. It has also been adapted into a film and a television special.