Belinda: An April Folly in Three Acts

A bright late‑April afternoon frames a tranquil Devonshire garden, where the scent of new blossoms mingles with the gentle sway of a freshly hung hammock. Lady Belinda, ever the witty hostess, rehearses polite refusals with her long‑standing servant Betty, turning everyday chores into a comic ritual. Their banter—about the sturdiness of the hammock, the proper way to receive callers, and the absurdity of “not being at home”—offers a sparkling glimpse of a household that lives for genteel performance.

As the garden hums with the promise of visitors, Belinda maps out imagined encounters with the prim Mr. Baxter and the poet‑type Claude Devenish, each entrance choreographed with a mix of mock seriousness and hidden anticipation. The stage is set for a gently mischievous social dance, where propriety and playful deception intertwine. Listeners will be drawn into the light‑hearted yet perceptive world of a woman who, despite her elegant façade, is testing the limits of her own expectations.