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

Summary

A trilogy of classic plays by Pierre Augustin Caron De Beaumarchais, including The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro and The Guilty Mother

Forerunner 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 Seville
Cast
Gary Bond - Count Almaviva
Nickolas Grace - Figaro
Dorothy Tutin - Rosina
Michael Aldridge - Bartholo
Peter Pratt - Master Basil
Michael Bilton - The Youth
John Wells - Wide-awake
Peter Acre - Notary
Arnold Diamond - An Alcade

The Marriage of Figaro
Cast
Dorothy Tutin - The Countess
Gary Bond - Count Almaviva
Nickolas Grace - Figaro
Alison Steadman - Suzannah
Michael Aldridge - Bartholo
Jean Boht - Marcellina
John McAndrew - The Cherub
Peter Pratt - Basil
Moir Leslie - Little Fanny
Michael Bilton - Antonio
John Wells - Don Guzman Bridlegoose
Peter Acre - Grab
Michael Jenner - Ebenezer Sunshine
Helena Breck & Narissa Knights - Bridesmaids

The Guilty Mother
Cast
Alison Steadman - Suzannah
Nickolas Grace - Figaro
Norman Rodway - Major Bejorass
Gary Bond - Count Almaviva
John McAndrew - Leon
Moir Leslie - Floresta
Dorothy Tutin - The Countess
John Wells - Wilhelm
Arnold Diamond - Mr Dim


Production credits
Music Composed & Conducted by Carl Davis
Written by Pierre Augustin Caron De Beaumarchais
Translated by John Wells
Produced and Directed by Ian Cotterell


Originally 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