The Romancers: A Comedy in Three Acts

audiobook

The Romancers: A Comedy in Three Acts

by Edmond Rostand

EN·~57 minutes·7 chapters

Chapters

7 total

Produced by Kent Cooper

0:14

EDMOND ROSTAND

1:08

THE ROMANCERS

0:21

ACT I - SCENE: The stage is divided by an old wall, covered with vines and flowers. At the right, a corner of BERGAMIN's private park; at the left, a corner of PASQUINOT's. On each side of the wall, and against it, is a rustic bench. As the curtain rises, PERCINET is seated on the top of the wall. On his knee is a book, out of which he is reading to SYLVETTE, who stands attentively listening on the bench which is on the other side of the wall.

22:47

ACT II - SCENE: The same, except that the wall has disappeared. The benches which were formerly against it are removed to the extreme right and left. There are a few extra pots of flowers and two or three plaster statues. To the right is a small garden table, with chairs about it.

3:11

PASQUINOT. I?

16:14

ACT III - SCENE: The scene is the same except that the wall is being rebuilt. Bricks and sacks of plaster lie about.

13:02

Description

Set against a whimsical eighteenth‑century garden split by an ivy‑covered wall, the play opens with young lovers Sylvette and Percinet sharing verses of Romeo and Juliet. Their innocent banter quickly reveals a deeper conflict: the two families have been feuding for generations, and each parent threatens to bar the romance. As the couple teeters between poetry and protest, the audience is drawn into a light‑hearted battle of wits and affection.

The comedy unfolds as both sides enlist friends, servants, and even a garden wall to stage elaborate schemes that keep the lovers apart, while the lovers devise their own clever ruses. With witty dialogue, playful misunderstandings, and a chorus of colorful supporting characters, the first act builds a charming tension that feels both timeless and delightfully theatrical. Listeners are left anticipating how Sylvette and Percinet might outwit their elders and find a path to a shared future.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~57 minutes (54K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

2006-01-23

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Edmond Rostand

Edmond Rostand

1868–1918

Best known for the dazzling verse play Cyrano de Bergerac, this French dramatist brought romance, wit, and theatrical flair back to the stage at the end of the 19th century. His work still appeals to readers who love grand feeling, sharp language, and unforgettable characters.

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