The Follies of a Day; or, The Marriage of Figaro A comedy, as it is now performing at the Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden. From the French of M. de Beaumarchais

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The Follies of a Day; or, The Marriage of Figaro A comedy, as it is now performing at the Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden. From the French of M. de Beaumarchais

by Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais

EN·~2 hours·9 chapters

Chapters

9 total
1

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

1:25
2

THE FOLLIES OF A DAY; OR, THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO.

4:01
3

PROLOGUE,

1:36
4

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

0:30
5

ACT I.

32:32
6

ACT II.

39:25
7

ACT III.

27:54
8

ACT IV.

22:19
9

ACT V.

28:06

Description

A lively comedy of wit and intrigue, this adaptation brings the bustling servant world of 18th‑century France to the English stage with sparkling dialogue and tight pacing. When Figaro, a clever valet, prepares to marry his beloved Susanna, a web of jealous aristocrats, meddling servants, and mistaken identities begins to close in, turning a simple wedding into a battlefield of clever retorts and daring schemes. The opening scenes set the tone with rapid exchanges, a sharp critique of class pretensions, and a mischievous spirit that promises endless amusement.

The performance captures the original’s brisk tempo while offering modern listeners clear narration of stage directions and bustling entrances. Rich characterizations—Figaro’s roguish charm, the Count’s pompous insecurity, and Susanna’s quick‑witted defiance—create a vibrant tapestry of social satire. Listeners will find themselves drawn into a day of farcical folly that celebrates love, cleverness, and the timeless joy of outwitting authority.

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Full title

The Follies of a Day; or, The Marriage of Figaro A comedy, as it is now performing at the Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden. From the French of M. de Beaumarchais A comedy, as it is now performing at the Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden. From the French of M. de Beaumarchais

Language

en

Duration

~2 hours (151K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

MFR, John Campbell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)

Release date

2021-03-28

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais

Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais

1732–1799

Best known for The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro, this lively French playwright turned wit, scandal, and social satire into some of the stage’s most enduring comedies. His life was nearly as dramatic as his work: he was also a watchmaker, courtier, businessman, and political go-between.

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