
Produced by Kent Cooper
EDMOND ROSTAND
THE ROMANCERS
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.
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.
PASQUINOT. I?
ACT III - SCENE: The scene is the same except that the wall is being rebuilt. Bricks and sacks of plaster lie about.
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.
Language
en
Duration
~57 minutes (54K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2006-01-23
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1868–1918
Best known for the dazzling play Cyrano de Bergerac, this French poet and dramatist brought a burst of romance, wit, and theatrical flair to the stage at the end of the 19th century. His work helped keep verse drama alive for a wide audience and still feels full of energy today.
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