The Story - 1st Act

 

Overture

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Linguini and the Ratcatchers of the Voorhout

Linguini sweeps the streets, dances with his broom and dreams of meeting a charming girl. People wander past… and so do rats. Ratcatchers try to catch them, but most escape unharmed.

 

Rats in Grandma Faber’s house

Ria the Rat, her sister Emmy and their mother Ciska take refuge in Grandma Faber’s home. She is watching the famous Chef Custard on her television. Emmy steals some food, while Ria grabs a cookbook. When Grandma Faber catches them, she flies into a rage and fires her gun. The uproar brings all the rats out, and they flee in panic.

 

On the hunt for food

Ria finds lots of delicious foods; mushrooms, strawberries and rosemary. Mixing them with cheese, she whips up a delicious meal and realises she possesses an extraordinary sense of taste and smell. How could she use this?

 

The flood

A sudden flood washes the rats away, and a furious Grandma Faber is also swept along in the swirling waters.

 

Relieved and chased

The ratcatchers reappear, but the rat colony has vanished. Ria’s mother and sister fled while Ria clutched her precious cookbook.

 

Ria sees the ghost of Chef Custard 

Gazing sadly at her cookbook, Ria is astonished when the ghost of its author, Chef Custard, appears. He leads her to The Hague, where she must remain hidden since humans seem to fear rats.

 

On the Lange Voorhout

Ria roams through the city, encountering people in all sorts of curious situations. She arrives at Chef Custard’s renowned restaurant, slips inside and marvels at the bustling kitchen, where she sets eyes on the quite intimidating Chef Snijder.

 

Restaurant Chez Custard

Linguini applies for a job with a letter of recommendation from his late mother. Chef Snijder hires him as a “waste boy” and cleaner. Through the swing doors, Linguini watches the restaurant at work. He catches sight of Claudia, a cook, and instantly falls in love. Pretending to clean, he admires her from afar as she sharpens knives and chops up ingredients. In his imagination, they dance a passionate duet. Linguini, however, spoils the soup; Ria notices and restores its flavour. When Linguini discovers Ria’s role, Chef Snijder threatens to fire him on the spot. That is until the soup is served to the esteemed food critic Clara van Son. Delighted by the dish, she promises a glowing review. Chef Snijder then orders Linguini and Claudia to choose a new recipe. Ria tries to help quietly but is found out. “Kill that filthy rat!” Chef Snijder orders.

 

In the Alley

Linguini ties Ria up but finds he can’t kill her. The other rats watch shakingly and anxiously from behind the bins.

 

The rescue

Linguini unties Ria and takes her away on his silent scooter. Even though she’s scared, Ria chooses to trust him.

 

At home with Linguini A

t home, Ria teaches Linguini to cook “blind,” relying solely on his senses. The following day, fearing Ria has gone, Linguini is pleasantly surprised to find she has made him breakfast. Together, they head back to the restaurant.

 

The trick in the kitchen

Linguini secretly brings Ria inside the kitchen. Claudia is instructed to mentor this unusual new colleague, much to her annoyance. With Ria’s subtle guidance, Linguini conjures up a new dish: linguine pasta. Claudia is baffled by his sudden culinary flair.

 

The will

The ghost of Chef Custard reappears, bearing a letter: his will. It reveals that Linguini, his illegitimate son, is the rightful heir to ‘Chez Custard’.

 

Chef Snijder’s fury

For Chef Snijder, this news is a disaster. Enraged, he spots Ria again, and a frantic chase follows through an autumnal The Hague. Linguini fears he will lose Ria forever.

 

(Interval)