The Figaro Plays: The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro and The Guilty Mother

Synopsis

A trilogy of classic plays by Pierre Augustin Caron De Beaumarchais, including The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro and The Guilty MotherForerunner to the renowned operas, The Figaro Plays by Pierre Augustin Caron De Beaumarchais are a celebration of how intelligence and wit can bring any servant level with their aristocratic masters. Considered scandalous in their time, the plays went on to be adapted by Rossini (The Barber of Seville) and Mozart (The Marriage of Figaro) to become some of the most popular and acclaimed operas of all time. These original plays show us the stories behind these popular operas.In The Barber of Seville, Count Almaviva falls in love with a young noblewoman, but every attempt to seduce her is countered by her watchful guardian. Only his resourceful servant Figaro may get him what he wants... The Marriage of Figaro sees the Count grown tired of his marriage to Rosina, and instead his thoughts turn to Suzannah, Figaro's own fiancée. Will Figaro's wiles prove sufficient to save two marriages? And in The Guilty Mother, the Countess Almaviva finds troubles of her own with an illegitimate child on the way, and a scheming Major on hand to make every slip-up into a catastrophe. Once again, all depend on Figaro...Translated by John Wells, the English actor, satirist, screenwriter, and co-founder of the magazine Private Eye, this trilogy of comic dramas are masterpieces of power, humour, and marital misadventure.The Barber of SevilleCastGary Bond - Count AlmavivaNickolas Grace - FigaroDorothy Tutin - RosinaMichael Aldridge - BartholoPeter Pratt - Master BasilMichael Bilton - The YouthJohn Wells - Wide-awakePeter Acre - NotaryArnold Diamond - An AlcadeThe Marriage of FigaroCastDorothy Tutin - The CountessGary Bond - Count AlmavivaNickolas Grace - FigaroAlison Steadman - SuzannahMichael Aldridge - BartholoJean Boht - MarcellinaJohn McAndrew - The CherubPeter Pratt - BasilMoir Leslie - Little FannyMichael Bilton - AntonioJohn Wells - Don Guzman BridlegoosePeter Acre - GrabMichael Jenner - Ebenezer SunshineHelena Breck & Narissa Knights - BridesmaidsThe Guilty MotherCastAlison Steadman - SuzannahNickolas Grace - FigaroNorman Rodway - Major BejorassGary Bond - Count AlmavivaJohn McAndrew - LeonMoir Leslie - FlorestaDorothy Tutin - The CountessJohn Wells - WilhelmArnold Diamond - Mr DimProduction creditsMusic Composed & Conducted by Carl DavisWritten by Pierre Augustin Caron De BeaumarchaisTranslated by John WellsProduced and Directed by Ian CotterellOriginally broadcast on BBC Radio 3: 29 May 1985 (The Barber of Seville)12 June 1985 (The Guilty Mother)1 January 1986 (The Marriage of Figaro)©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd