The Duenna: A Comic Opera

"The Duenna: A Comic Opera" by Richard Brinsley Sheridan is a comedic operatic play written in the late 18th century. This work takes place in Seville and revolves around themes of love, familial duty, and courtship, oscillating between the desires of young lovers and the authoritative stances of their guardians. Key characters include the romantic leads, Don Ferdinand and Donna Louisa, who strive against the constraints imposed by their fathers, set against a backdrop of mistaken identities and humorous misunderstandings. The opening of "The Duenna" presents an amusing tableau that introduces us to the first strains of romance and conflict. We meet Lopez, a servant, who ponders the difficulties of aiding his master, Don Ferdinand, in winning the heart of Donna Clara while fearing the consequences if caught. The story quickly spools into a serenade wherein Don Antonio sings outside the window of Donna Louisa, drawing the ire of her father, Don Jerome, and creating chaos. The tension mounts as both Louisa and Clara plot to defy their fathers' wishes, leading to a series of comedic encounters, elopements, and dramatic entrances that set the tone for the lively and entangled relationships that will unfold. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan was an Anglo-Irish playwright, writer and Whig politician who sat in the British House of Commons from 1780 to 1812, representing the constituencies of Stafford, Westminster and Ilchester. The owner of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in London, he wrote several prominent plays such as The Rivals (1775), The Duenna (1775), The School for Scandal (1777) and A Trip to Scarborough (1777). He served as Treasurer of the Navy from 1806 to 1807. Sheridan died in 1816 and was buried at Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey. His plays remain a central part of the Western canon and are regularly performed around the world.