My Guide to the Marriage of Figaro

From www.birminghamverse.com by blogger Daniel Hurst:

(Warning: Spoiler alert)

In my earlier piece on the upcoming performance of The Marriage of Figaro by Opera Birmingham, I suggested that it might be more enjoyable if you learned a little more before you went. After seeing three rehearsals – and in an effort to help with my own understanding – here’s my completely amateur (and possibly completely wrong) rundown of essential plot points:

BACKGROUND

• (As introduced, good guys are listed in GREEN, bad guys in RED.)
• For something which is considered among the finest of the fine arts, it’s fun to remember that this opera is pretty much all about sex.
• The major plot device is that the local Count has recently abolished the rule that allows him to take the virginity of every new bride in his territory. See?
• The action takes place all in one day in the Count’s castle.

Act I

• Susanna is an attractive servant who works directly for the beautiful Countess.
• Susanna and Figaro (wily like Bugs Bunny) are in love and plan to be married today.
• When we first see them, she is excited about the wedding, but he’s so excited about the sex that he’s measuring out a space for their bed.
• The first obstacle to the marriage is that the Count still lusts after Susanna, even though he’s agreed to abolish his noble right to have her first.
• The Count has offered money – a dowry – to Susanna if she submits to him willingly.
• The Count has given the couple a room in his castle which is very near his own room – supposedly so Susanna can serve the Countess better, but in reality so he can be closer to her himself.
• Figaro and Susanna plot to foil the Count’s lust.
• The second obstacle is that Figaro owes money to an old battle-axe, Marcellina – who absolutely worships him – and he has promised to marry her if he can’t pay her back.
• Marcellina plots with a lawyer, Bartolo, to manipulate the Count into marrying her to Figaro.
• Cherubino is a talented, handsome teenage boy (played by a woman) who is a mischievous scoundrel. He’s recently gotten his full, adult dose of testosterone and is relentlessly driven to try and have sex with all the girls. He is especially enamored with the Countess.
• At the beginning, the Count has already caught Cherubino with one of his earlier conquests, Barbarina, and has angrily (and jealously) banished him from the castle.
• The Count catches Cherubino in the room with Susanna and is re-angered.
• The Count is convinced to forgive Cherubino but commissions him far away into the army.
• Figaro tricks the Count into blessing his marriage in front of the peasants and affirming that he won’t take the virgin brides anymore.

Act II

• The Countess ruminates on her husband’s unfaithfulness and wants his love.
• Figaro schemes with Susanna and the Countess against the Count.
• Their plan is for Susanna to tell the Count to meet her in the garden for the sexual tryst, but instead to send Cherubino – dressed like Susanna.
• Cherubino – ever the lover – attempts to woo the Countess by singing a love song before they put him in girl’s clothes.
• When the Count interrupts, the women hide Cherubino in the closet.
• The Count suspects that a man is in the closet and he and the Countess argue.
• The Count plans to break down the closet door and takes the Countess with him out of the room to fetch tools.
• Cherubino leaves the closet and jumps out the window into the garden.
• Susanna gets into the closet and re-locks the door.
• The Count and Countess return and she confesses that Cherubino is crossdressed in the closet.
• In a rage, the Count opens the door and Susanna walks out, confusing everyone.
• The women blame the incident on the Count’s suspicious jealousy.
• The Count begs the Countess for forgiveness.
• Figaro enters to say that the wedding festivities are starting.
• The Count wishes Marcellina would arrive and stop the wedding.
• Antonio, the gardener at the castle (and Susanna’s protective uncle), enters and says that a man just jumped out the window and crushed his flowers.
• Figaro explains to the Count that it was him – not Cherubino – who jumped out the window.
• Antonio shows Cherubino’s army commission to the Count – which was lost when Cherubino jumped from the window.
• Figaro explains to the Count that Cherubino gave the commission to him because it was missing the proper seal – which it is.
• The Count is confused, confounded, and angry.
• Marcellina, Basilio, and Bartolo enter to ask the Count to force Figaro to marry Marcellina.

Act III

• The Count is still angry and confused about how to proceed.
• Susanna tells the Count that she will meet him that night in the garden for the sexual tryst, though her real plan is now for the Countess to dress like Susanna and wait in her place.
• The Count overhears Susanna and Figaro conspiring and, re-angered, decides that Figaro must honor his contract with Marcellina.
• While trying to weasel his way out of the contract, Figaro tells that he was kidnapped as a child, does not know his parents, and has a birthmark on his arm.
• Marcellina recognizes the birthmark and is revealed as Figaro’s mother. She fingers Bartolo as Figaro’s father.
  
• Mother and son cannot marry and the Count’s revenge is foiled.
• Susanna enters to pay Marcellina (out of her dowry?) to save Figaro for herself. She sees Figaro embracing Marcellina and is angry and saddened.
• The situation is explained to Susanna, who is pacified.
• Bartolo is reluctantly forced to agree to marry Marcellina.
• The Countess considers her husband and these shenanigans.
• The Countess and Susanna write a letter to the Count, reminding him to meet her in the garden. The fasten the letter with a pin, but ask the Count to return it.
• Although Cherubino should be gone, he just won’t leave the castle (and all its women). The Count is angered until Barbarina defends him by asking the Count if she may marry Cherubino.
• The peasants rejoice – again – because the Count has agreed not to bed virgin brides anymore.
• Susanna gives the letter to the Count.
• Both couples are wed and they dance.

Act IV

• The Count gives the pin to Barbarina to return to Susanna, but she loses it.
• Figaro gives Barbarina a new pin, but is crushed when he thinks that Susanna really is going to meet and let the Count have her in the garden.
• Susanna and the Countess arrive – with the Countess dressed as Susanna.
• Ever-present Cherubino arrives and hits on the Countess – who he thinks is Susanna waiting there for the Count.
• Cherubino accidentally kisses the Count, who intercedes.
• The Count accidentally hits Figaro, who intercedes.
• Although they are being spied on, the Count is left alone with the Countess (as Susanna) and tells her he loves her.
• The Count gives the Countess (as Susanna) a ring as a token of his love.
• They hide as they realize they are being watched.
• Figaro and Susanna talk in the darkness, but he mistakes her for the Countess.
• The Count re-enters, looking for Susanna, and everyone hiding is revealed, exposing the plot against him.
• The Countess enters and shows the Count the ring – catching him in his unfaithfulness.
• The Count begs forgiveness – again. She forgives him – again.