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The Sorcerer Act 1 The show opens with the villagers celebrating the forthcoming engagement of Alexis, the son of Lord Marmaduke, and Aline, the daughter of Lady Sangazure. Meanwhile, Constance is lamenting her unrequited love for Doctor Daly, the village vicar, to her mother Mrs Partlet - the pew opener. Whereupon the man himself appears reflecting on his past conquests, for he ''was loved beyond all other men''. Mrs Partlet then clumsily attempts to play cupid for her daughter, but only succeeds in promoting herself. Constance departs distraught. Alexis and Lord Marmaduke greet Dr Daly, who gives Alexis his blessing. Lord Marmaduke the proceeds to rebuke Alexis for his overt displays of affection towards Aline, and recounts the days of his more restrained, but unfulfilled, courtship of Lady Sangazure fifty years previously. The ladies of the village then congratulate Aline, and the the men, Alexis. Lord Marmaduke and Lady Sangazure meet and declare their undying love with stately courtesy, frantic vehemence and much ceremony. Everyone gathers to witness the signing of the marriage contract by Alexis and Aline, who are then left alone to contemplate their love. Alexis tells Aline of his plan to couple the whole village in matrimony, without distinction of age, rank or fortune.To accomplish this , he has decided to enrol the services of John Wellington Wells, of J.W. Wells & Co., Family Sorcerers from whom he will procure a philtre (love potion). Mr Wells appears and describes the supernatural side of his business. A deal is struck. An incantation Performed. The potion is poured into the tea. Everyone is invited by Lord Marmaduke to a banquet, where the tea is served and soon begins to take effect. The villagers fall to the ground. The Sorcerer Act 2 Mr Wells, Aline and Alexis inspect the sleeping villagers as the hour approaches when they will wake. The villagers slowly wake up, and fall in love with the first person they see, and express their devotion in Mummerset accents. Constance enters pushing the Notary in a wheel chair - she is upset because she has inexplicably fallen in love with this doddery old man. The chorus exits joyfully, and Alexis tells Aline that they must drink the philtre to ensure her undying love for him. She refuses and he berates her. Dr Daly interrupts, noting that the whole village wishes to be joined in matrimony a.s.a.p. Alexis is delighted, until his father appears with Mrs Partlet, whom he proposes to marry, on his arm. It is not exactly what Alexis had in mind. Dr Daly is feeling distinctly unsatiated and they all reflect on the situation. In the meantime, Mr Wells is having an attack of the conscience when Lady Sangazure spots him. Of course, she has drunk the potion... He rejects her and she threatens to die of a broken heart. Mr Wells runs for his life with Lady Sangazure in hot pursuit. Aline has a change of heart, drinks the potion and collapses under its influence. Dr Daly reflects on his lack of companionship, and after propositioning anything in a skirt (always meeting with refusal) he finds Aline, asleep. On waking her they fall instantly in love, only be discovered by Alexis. He is furious, and summons the villagers to expose her betrayal - ignoring the fact that he was instrumental in Aline drinking the philtre. How will they resolve the situation? Mr Wells tells them that the spell may only be broken if he or Alexis yields his life to Ahrimanes. Alexis volunteers... but at Aline's plea and the villagers wish Mr Wells is the one who perishes. The villagers then come to their senses and (with much disgust) leave their current partners and return to those whom they were with before the whole affair began. The Zoo Act 3 The third act opens one hundred years later, in the grounds of Pointdextre Mansion, now the home of Thomas Brown, Alexis and Aline,s great grandson. Somewhat impoverished by death duties he has transformed the grounds into a safari park, around which the British public are milling. The discover AEsculapius Carboy on a chair with a rope around his neck, attempting to hang himself. Upon inquiries as to his actions, he outlines the reason for his plight. Having been forbidden to marry his love Laetitia, by her father, Mr Grinder, they have been forced to send love letters in the form of prescriptions, for Carboy is an apothecary. He has received word that there has been a label mix-up with one of these, and believes it must have killed Laetitia. The public try to dissuade him from his actions until Eliza Smith, the food-stall holder, appears and confiscates the rope. She returns to her job as Thomas Brown appears in search of her. He is quite obviously besotted with her, and she with him. Laetitia enters looking for Carboy, who assumes she must be a ghost. She Explains that the labelling mix-up never happened, and that it was her sister's idea of a joke. Meanwhile Thomas has eaten too much at Eliza's stall during his flirtations. He faints, and much advice is given on how to revive him - finally Eliza is despatched with a prescription. As Thomas comes round, Carboy and Laetitia discover that he is a peer, and due deference is paid by the public. He hesitantly thanks them for their courtesy. In an extraordinary bit of reading between the lines, the public realises that he loves Eliza and suggests that he propose. He departs to don the appropriate garb, along with Carboy and Laetitia. Grinder enters in search of Laetitia, but she is nowhere to be found. Eliza comes in looking for Thomas, but he is also absent so she reflects on her past 'acquaintances'. There is a confrontation between Grinder, Carboy and Laetitia, and the public pleads for them to be allowed to marry. Grinder refuses, so Carboy says a prolonged farewell, and heads off to the bear pit, rope in hand. Thomas Brown enters in his full regalia and proposes to Eliza who hesitates because she does not want to leave the animals. He reassures her that he owns the whole place, so she consents. Carboy returns, having been unsuccessful in his attempts at suicide (someone moved the bears) and heads off to the lions den. He is prevented from doing so by Thomas who has interceded on his behalf and paid Grinder off. As usual, all ends happily ever after!
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