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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

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
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

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Count Almaviva

Lead

Male

Non-singer

The Countess

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Suzanne

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Figaro

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Bartholo

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Bazile

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Marceline

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Cherubin

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Antonio

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Fanchette

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Don Guzman Brid'oison

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Doublemain

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Gripe-Soleil

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Pedrillo

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Silent

Songs

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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

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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