Frances Brooke’s play ‘Marian’ is a pastoral comedy, classified as a ‘comic opera’ because it contains some fun songs! It has very close parallels to Brooke’s other successful comedy, ‘Rosina’, because why change a winning strategy. Popular in its time, it is pretty much never performed ot talked about today.
Short summary of the (relatively simple) plot:
Marian, the daughter of a farmer, has inherited some money from her Godmother. As a consequence, her father thinks she should no longer see her lover Edward, as she is now too good for him. However, Edward and Marian reconcile, and assure each other that money plays no part in their relationship. The play also features relationships between Jamie, a Scottish pedlar, and Peggy, as well as between Robin and Patty.
Sir Edward, the landowner, has observed Edward’s conduct, and wants to reward him by giving him a farm if her marries Marian. Jamie reveals that Edward’s mother, a genteel lady, has finally inherited a house she was cheated out of by a relative. Edward and Marian decide to go and live with Edward’s mother.
The Women's Playhouse 