The villagers of Ploverleigh are preparing to celebrate the betrothal ceremony of Alexis and Aline. Constance is alone in not joining the festivities, and confesses to her mother, Mrs Partlet, that she is in love with Dr Daly the local vicar, but fears that he does not feel the same. Mrs Partlet tries to suggest to Dr Daly that he should consider taking a wife, but the vicar is caught up in reminiscences of his youth, and is oblivious to Constance’s affection.

Alexis and his father Sir Marmaduke arrive, and prepare to greet Aline and her mother, Lady Sangazure. Sir Marmaduke complains that Alexis and Aline are too unrestrained in their displays of affection, and confesses that he was madly in love with Lady Sangazure in his youth, but that their sense of propriety prevented their union. Aline and her mother arrive, escorted by the women of the village, and Sir Marmaduke and Lady Sangazure meet for the first time in years. The village men then arrive to celebrate Alexis, and the Notary performs the betrothal ceremony.

Everyone leaves to prepare for the feast, leaving Alexis and Aline alone. Alexis has come to the conclusion that marriage is the source of every earthly joy, and that everyone in the world could be happy if they could marry without considering the artificial barriers of rank, wealth, age, taste, or class, and has been attempting to spread this doctrine around the country, but with little success. To progress the cause, he has arranged for a Family Sorcerer, John Wellington Wells, to come from London and prepare a love potion that he plans to administer secretly to the entire village. Whoever drinks the potion will fall asleep, and on waking will instantly fall in love with the first person they see who has also drunk it.

Wells arrives, and brews the potion in the teapot with the help of his supernatural powers. The villagers return to begin the feast, and all join in a Brindisi, or drinking song, with the teapot being passed around everyone. As Alexis, Aline, and Wells watch on, the entire company is overcome by the potion, and collapse in sleep.

Act II

Later that night, Alexis, Aline, and Wells return to see the villagers awaken. As the potion takes its effect, the villagers all pair up, but with mixed results. Constance reveals that she is suddenly in love with the Notary, a very plain and deaf old man who she can’t stand.

Alexis congratulates himself on a job well done, but Aline is less convinced. Alexis then demands that they should drink the potion themselves, so that their love can be assured forever. Aline, horrified, tells Alexis that if he cannot trust her to love him faithfully, then he has no right to love her at all. Dr Daly arrives, having drunk the potion, but not yet encountered anyone who hasn’t already fallen in love.

They are interrupted by the arrival of Sir Marmaduke, who has fallen in love with Mrs Partlet due to the potion. All agree that, while this is not the outcome they would have preferred, at least they seem happy.

Meanwhile, Wells laments how his spell has been causing chaos and misery in the village as people are forced to love people they have nothing at all in common with. Lady Sangazure arrives, also having not found a partner yet, and tries to woo Wells, who frantically attempts to put her off him.

In a previously cut scene that we are reinstating, Wells attempts a second incantation to summon his master, Ahrimanes. The demon mocks his request to break the spell, and will only agree to do so if either Wells or Alexis will sacrifice his life to them.

Aline, having decided to make a gesture to Alexis, drinks the potion herself and falls asleep alone. Dr Daly returns, lamenting that all the village maidens are now engaged. His song awakens Aline, and by the potion’s power the two immediately fall in love.

Alexis returns, and is at first overjoyed that Aline has taken the potion, but then horrified that she is now in love with Dr Daly. As he angrily blames them, the villagers arrive to see what the commotion is about.

Alexis asks Wells if there is any way to break the spell, and Wells reveals the terms set by Ahrimanes. Leaving the decision to the village, Wells is quickly condemned, and descends into the underworld. The spell is broken, and everyone is free to return to their true loves. Sir Marmaduke announces another feast to celebrate, to general rejoicing.

Synopsis by Laurence Cox, Artistic Director