The Rivals - Synopsis

The Rivals: Synopsis

Lydia Languish is pursued by many men, including Bob Acres, Sir Lucius O'Trigger, and Jack Absolute (as Ensign Beverley); she prefers the latter. Her aunt, Mrs. Malaprop, carries out an anonymous correspondence with Sir Lucius. Julia loves the neglectful Faulkland. Sir Anthony Absolute arranges for his son to marry Lydia; eventually, they are married, although Jack Absolute is supposed to fight his alter ego in the process. Faulkland and Julia are reconciled. Sir Lucius and Bob Acres renounce any claim to Lydia.

Act I.

Fag and Thomas, a coachman, two servants, meet by chance and discuss their employers: Thomas is employed by Sir Anthony Absolute and Fag by his son Jack, who has taken on the identity of Ensign Beverley. Jack Absolute is in love with Miss Lydia Languish, who would prefer him as a half-pay ensign than as he really is (the son of a baronet). However, her troublesome aunt is impeding the progress of their courtship. Fag teases Thomas about his wig; natural hair is the newest fashion. Lucy has brought Lydia romance novels from various circulating libraries. Lydia’s cousin Julia Melville enters, and announces that her uncle Sir Anthony has also just arrived in Bath. Lydia tells Julia that her aunt, Mrs. Malaprop, is carrying on an epistolary flirtation with a tall Irishman under a pseudonym of “Delia or Celia”. Lydia is annoyed that “the odious Acres”, another suitor, is in Bath and intends to call on her. She has written a letter to herself warning her that Beverley is carrying on with another woman; having shown this to Beverley, she has caused a quarrel between them, and he has been absent for some days. Lydia teases Julia about her lover Faulkland. Mrs. Malaprop and Sir Anthony approach; Julia flees, Lucy hides the romance novels, and Lydia composes herself.  Mrs. Malaprop berates Lydia for wanting to marry an impoverished man. Sir Anthony scolds Mrs. Malaprop for having permitted her niece for having indulged in the “diabolical arts” resulting from exposure to a circulating library. Mrs. Malaprop consents to Sir Anthony’s request to have Jack Absolute court Lydia. Mrs. Malaprop scolds Lucy and begs her to keep her correspondence with Sir Lucius O’Trigger a secret.

Act II.

Absolute chastises Fag for confiding in Thomas. Faulkland arrive and Absolute tells him that Julia is in Bath. Bob Acres enters; believing that Jack Absolute has never met Lydia, he confides his annoyance at his rival Ensign Beverley. Faulkland asks Acres about Julia; he believes she should have been indisposed during his absence, but is horrified to find that she is happy and well. Acres teases Faulkland to the point of the latter’s departure. Acres tells Jack that he wants to fight Ensign Beverley. Fag announces Sir Anthony’s arrival. Jack is initially pleased with Sir Anthony’s offer of a fortune, which will allow him to quit the army, but is taken aback by the condition that he must get a wife. Sir Anthony curses him and says that he must love whoever is chosen for him. After threatening to invest five pence a day and make Jack live off the interest and vowing to “unget him”, Sir Anthony leaves. Jack summons Fag to come quickly. Lucy gives Sir Lucius a letter supposedly from Lydia (but really from Mrs. Malaprop). Sir Lucius kisses Lucy and instructs her to tell her mistress that he kissed her fifty times. Fag enters, and Lucy tells him that Sir Anthony Absolute intends to marry his son to Lydia. Fag assures her that he will bring the news to his master (Beverley).

Act III.

Pleased with Fag’s news, Jack returns to his father and affects penitence. Sir Anthony describes Lydia’s beauty, to which Jack pretends to be indifferent. Sir Anthony forgives him but says that he will marry the girl himself if Jack continues to spite him. Faulkland and Julia meet; his disbelief in her love causes her to leave in tears. As himself, Jack meets with Mrs. Malaprop to discuss his engagement to Lydia. She approves of the match, but gives him Beverley’s latest letter, saying that he must defeat his rival. Jack suggests that she allow Lydia to run off with Beverley and to let him apprehend the couple before they have time to be married. Mrs. Malaprop agrees to this plan. As a joke, Jack requests that she introduce him to Lydia as Beverley. Lydia meets him; he says that he is Beverley but that he had impersonated Absolute to fool Mrs. Malaprop. This lady listens to part of their conversation, and is scandalized to hear Lydia tell Absolute “Let her choice be Capt. Absolute, but Beverley is mine”. Acres practices a dance step and grooms himself. Sir Lucius O’Trigger arrives. Acres tells him about how Beverley has supplanted him as Lydia’s preferred rival, and O’Trigger encourages him to fight Beverley. O’Trigger dictates the challenge, and tells Acres that he faces a similar situation: a young captain (Absolute) has insulted his country.

Act IV.

Acres’ valet David discourages him from fighting by calling honour a “false friend”, but he will not be dissuaded. Acres calls Jack Absolute to deliver the challenge to Beverley. Sir Anthony and Jack go to visit Lydia and Mrs. Malaprop. Lydia and Jack refuse to look at one another; Sir Anthony and Mrs. Malaprop are angry with both of them. Lydia marvels that her aunt has noticed no difference between Absolute and the pretended Absolute (really Absolute as Beverley). However, Lydia recognizes Jack as Beverley, and realizes that he is really Absolute; she is peeved that there will be no elopement. Alone, they fight over the deception. Sir Anthony and Mrs. Malaprop return to hear Lydia renounce any further thought of Jack. To his own amusement, Sir Anthony believes that Jack has been “too lively” and has taken a liberty. Sir Lucius meets the despondent Jack and challenges him to a duel. Jack meets Faulkland, who is still smarting over his fight with Julia. A letter arrives from that lady forgiving him; Faulkland finds fault nonetheless, to Jack’s disgust. To test Julia’s love, Faulkland  will tell her that he plans to duel that evening.

Act V.

Faulkland goes to Julia to tell her that he must “fly the kingdom instantly”. Julia suggests that she join him in exile, but he finds excuses to prevent her doing so. Finally he admits that his exile is a lie. Julia tells him that she cannot marry him because he will never be content in love. Faulkland curses himself. Lydia complains to Julia about Beverley’s real identity. David, Fag and Mrs. Malaprop enter; the servants have acquainted the lady with knowledge of the imminent duels between Sir Lucius and Absolute, Acres and “Beverley”, and Falkland and whoever runs across his path; the women fly to stop them. Absolute hides his sword under his greatcoat. He meets his father, and tells him that he is bringing the sword to Lydia’s so that he can die a romantic death if she does not change her mind. As soon as Absolute has gone, David arrives to tell Sir Anthony of the duels. They rush to stop them. Sir Lucius practices aiming his gun at the terrified Acres. Absolute and Faulkland arrive; they plead with Faulkland to fight with Sir Lucius so as not to spoil the party. Absolute admits that he is Beverley; Acres is relieved and refuses to fight him. Acres agrees to be Sir Lucius’ second. Absolute and Sir Lucius draw. Sir Anthony, Mrs. Malaprop and Lydia arrive and stop the fight. Sir Lucius addresses Lydia as “Delia”, but Lydia says it is a mistake, and professes her love for Jack. Mrs. Malaprop reveals herself to be Delia, but Sir Lucius will have none of it. Acres says he will live a bachelor. Sir Anthony orders Julia and Faulkland to be married immediately; this will put a stop to Faulkland’s nonsense. Sir Lucius hosts a party celebrating the two marriages. Absolute and Faulkland discuss how they have both tasted “the Bitters, as well as the Sweets, of Love”, but that all has been remedied.

(From-http://projects.chass.utoronto.ca/prescrip/18thcComedy/plays/83_rbsher_rivals.html)