The Disguised Lover and Other Plays

Three French comedies of love and marriage. Charles Favart contributes two comic operas of considerable verve and humor. In THE DISGUISED LOVER, Julie pretends to be a man, and Clitandre pretends to be a peasant. But it's all in good fun, and while the play doesn't take itself seriously, all's well that ends well. RUSTIC AMOURS is a strange but effective blend of classical opera themes (shepherds and shepherdesses in love), combined with satire about Parisian fops and uncouth peasants--all of whom love the same beautiful shepherdess. Philippe Destouches' TRIPLE MARRIAGE is a beautifully-constructed one-act comedy about marriages that are--from the eighteenth-century high society's point-of-view--inappropriate. Old Matthews wants to marry again, but conceals his desire from his son and daughter, both of whom wish to marry as well--but not the rich old spouses their father has selected for them. Ultimately, the children take matters into their own hands. All three plays could easily be adapted to the modern stage, since their themes are universal.