The Village Coquette; Or, The Supposed Lottery

"The Village Coquette; Or, The Supposed Lottery" by Charles Rivière Dufresny is a funny play from the 1700s that turns classic French theatre on its head. The story follows Lisette, a clever young woman in the countryside, as she juggles three guys—the Baron, Argon, and Girard—who all want to marry her for different reasons, each one hoping the family's lottery win will pay off. Lisette, taught by the Widow, is great at playing the field, using her charm to try and move up in society. But things get complicated when a supposed lottery win for Lisette’s father, Farmer Lucas, causes confusion and scheming. As the suitors try to win Lisette's heart, they end up revealing their own selfishness and foolishness and eventually, the characters discover important truths about love and what they really want, leading to a funny and thoughtful look at wanting more in life and love.