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Overview
Synopsis
Lady Brute is trapped in a loveless marriage to her drunkard husband, Sir John Brute. They married for wealth and lust respectively and they are both now desperate for a way out of their union. Despite her strict moral conscience, Lady Brute has fallen for the dashing Constant, who loves her passionately. With the assistance of her playful niece, Belinda, she decides to break the rules and allow Constant to court her behind Sir John’s back. Meanwhile, Belinda decides to have a bit of fun of her own and charms Constant’s friend, the renowned “woman-hater” Heartfree. Unaware that he is being cuckolded, Sir John embarks on a drunken rampage around town with his drinking buddies, Lord Rake and Colonel Bully. He is arrested whilst wearing a woman’s dress, but manages to talk his way out of further prosecution by pretending to be his wife!
Back at home, Lady Brute’s secret assignations are about to be revealed by the jealous Lady Fancyfull, who wants Heartfree all for herself. Disguising herself as Heartfree’s “wife”, she successfully drives a wedge between Belinda and Heartfree. All the lovers are revealed when Sir John arrives home earlier than usual and finds Constant and Heartfree concealed in the closet. Sir John, realizing that he is being cuckolded, confronts Constant, who proposes a duel. Sir John immediately backs off and appears to resign himself to having Constant in his life. Finally, Lady Fancyfull’s disguise is exposed, inducing Heartfree to give up his bachelor lifestyle and marry Belinda.
Show Information
- Book
- John Vanbrugh
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 5
- First Produced
- 1697
- Genres
- Comedy, Satire
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- England, Seventeenth Century
- Cast Size
- large
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Late Teen Characters
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass, Baritone, Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher