Love for Love

Love for Love is a Restoration comedy written by English playwright William Congreve. It premiered on 30 April 1695 at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre. Staged by Thomas Betterton's company the original cast included Betterton as Valentine, William Smith as Scandal, John Bowman as Tattle, Thomas Doggett as Ben, Samuel Sandford as Foresight, William Bowen as Jeremy, John Freeman as Buckram, Anne Bracegirdle as Angelica, Elizabeth Bowman as Mrs Foresight, Elizabeth Barry as Mrs Frail, Elinor Leigh as Nurse and Abigail Lawson as Jenny. Characters The play is a comical farce enlivened by its witty dialogue and its humorous characters, and perhaps more successful in its day than The Way of the World, now considered Congreve's best. The main character is Valentine, then Jeremy, Valentine's resourceful servant; Sir Sampson, with his 'blunt vivacity'; Ben, the rough young sea-dog, who intends to marry whom he chooses; Miss Prue, only too ready to learn the lessons in love given her by Tattle, the vain, half-witted beau, who finds himself married to Mrs. Frail, the lady of easy virtue, when he thinks he has captured Angelica; and Foresight, the gullible old astrologer. Dramatis Personae Sir Sampson Legend, father to Valentine and Ben Valentine, fallen under his father's displeasure by his expensive way of living, in love with Angelica Scandal, his friend, a free speaker Tattle, a half-witted beau, vain of his amours, yet valuing himself for secrecy Ben, Sir Sampson's younger son, half home-bred and half sea-bred, designed to marry Miss Prue Foresight, an illiterate old fellow, peevish and positive, superstitious, and pretending to understand astrology, palmistry, physiognomy, omens, dreams, etc., uncle to Angelica Jeremy, servant to Valentine Trapland, a scrivener Buckram, a lawyer Angelica, niece to Foresight, of a considerable fortune in her own hands Mrs. Foresight, second wife to Foresight Mrs. Frail, sister to Mrs. Foresight, a woman of the town Miss Prue, daughter to Foresight by a former wife, a silly, awkward country girl Nurse, to Miss Prue Jenny, maid to Angelica A Steward, Officers, Sailors, and several servants Plot Valentine has fallen under the displeasure of his father by his extravagance, and is besieged by creditors. His father, Sir Sampson Legend, offers him £4000 (only enough to pay his debts) if he will sign a bond engaging to make over his right to his inheritance to his younger brother Ben.