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Synopsis
Act 1
Arianwyn (Nemorino), an honest peasant lad, is in love with the wealthy Angharad (Adina), but can’t bring himself to tell her. Angharad relates the story of Tristan and Isolde and the love potion that brought them together, and laments that there is nothing like that now to enslave women. Then an army troop arrives in the town, headed by Sergeant Beadden (Belcore); he and Adina are immediately attracted. Then comes the quack Dulcamara with his ‘magic potions’, which are no more than cheap wine, thinly disguised. Arianwyn drinks some, and immediately becomes inebriated - and bolder. The army troop is ordered to move on and the Sergeant wants to marry Angharad quickly; Arianwyn is too drunk to do anything to prevent it.
Act 2
Next day, the village girls, having discovered that Arianwyn's uncle has died and left him a fortune, a fact not yet known to the young man, begin to pay great attention to the now eligible young man. Arianwyn enlists with the troop to obtain some money, with which he buys more ‘elixir’ and breaks up the wedding festivities with loud boasts. Angharad secures Arianwyn’s discharge from the troop and faints in his arms. All ends well; Arianwyn comes to his senses, Dulcamara sells out, and the Sergeant puts a brave face on his misfortune and departs for the wars.
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