Overview
Synopsis
Former barber and jack-of-all-trades Figaro is about to be married to the love of his life, Suzanne. But, on the morning of the wedding, he learns that his employer, Count Almaviva has plans to seduce Suzanne himself. Over the course of the wedding day, Figaro, Suzanne, and the Countess carry out an elaborate plot to correct the Count’s licentious ways, using all of the main-stays of French farce: forged letters, disguises, and miscommunications - both intentional and unintentional. While the trickster couple tries to save their marriage, they are interrupted at every turn by the rest of the household: the Countess’ bitter former guardian Bartholo seeking his revenge; the maid Marceline who fancies Figaro; and the Count’s overly-amorous page Cherubin. In the end, everyone gets what they need - even if it’s not what they thought they wanted in the beginning.
The Marriage of Figaro is the second of Beaumarchais’ ‘Figaro Plays’ - a trilogy which defined the genre of French Farce. The Marriage of Figaro is the best-known and best-loved of the trilogy, in no small part due to its famous opera adaptation, which was written by Mozart and Da Ponte less than ten years later.
Show Information
- Book
- Pierre Beaumarchais
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 5
- First Produced
- 1778
- Genres
- Farce
- Settings
- Period
- Time & Place
- Spain, 17th Century
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- None
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Late Teen Characters
Context
Although English translations of The Marriage of Figaro are licensed by Concord Theatricals, the original French text is in the public domain.
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Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Silent |
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
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Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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