SYNOPSIS
The villagers of Ploverleigh are gathered together to celebrate the forthcoming marriage of Aline and Alexis, except for one person - Constance. Her mother (Mrs. Partlet) asks her the reason for her sadness, Constance explains that she is in love with Dr. Daly (the Vicar) but is aware that he hardly notices her. Her mother tries to cheer her up and promises that she will try to help them get together. Meanwhile, Alexis discovers that his father (Sir Marmaduke) and Aline’s mother (Lady Sangazure) were in love many years ago but never gave way to their true feelings. Alexis and Aline decide that it would be nice if they (and indeed all the other unmarried villagers) could experience the feelings of true love that they themselves have. Alexis then calls in the services of John Wellington Wells (a Sorcerer), who has invented a love philtre which when drunk ensures that everyone will have learnt the secret of pure love and happiness. When everyone goes to the banquet at Sir Marmaduke’s mansion (prior to the marriage of Aline and Alexis), the philtre is put into the tea and everyone partakes of it. At the end of Act 1 we see the whole village fall asleep.
At the start of Act 2 when everyone gradually awakens, it is true that the philtre has worked and almost everyone has fallen in love BUT not necessarily with the right person! It appears that after drinking the potion, people fall in love with the first person they meet! This has some surprising results - for instance Constance abandons the vicar in favour of the very old and deaf notary who presided at Aline and Alexis’ pre-nuptial ceremony! Similarly Sir Marmaduke has fallen for Mrs. Partlet, a person much lower in rank than himself and horror of horrors Lady Sangazure has fallen in love with none other than the Sorcerer himself! How the situation resolves itself you will have to wait and see but naturally being a G & S show, a happy ending is almost guaranteed.
