based on Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s novel-in-verse, Aurora Leigh
adapted by dr. temi rose
with additional dialogue
by temi rose, harun thomas, mark delabarre, shellie sclan,
marshall berman and czeslaw milosz
Romance/Adventure
Two Acts Approximately 2 hours
7 major characters
11 minor characters (can be played by Player One and Player Two)
The Players and Aurora open the show to establish themselves as the narrators. This is a love story told from two perspectives. The Auroras, tell the story of her life - which is the story of who and how she has loved; while the Players, workers, without whom nothing can manifest, reminisce, and remonstrate on love and revolution.
Act One: Aurora and Young Aurora describe Aurora’s early life, her parents’ love; how she came to live in England; how she came to know Romney; how Romney proposed to her and she rejected him; how Romney, a social revolutionary, proposed to a working girl, Marian and how his plans to marry Marian were ruined by Lady Waldemar.
Act Two: The Auroras tell how Marian was found and saved and how Romney came at last to be with Aurora after being engaged and then falling out with Lady Waldemar.
Throughout the play, the Players change sets and (if the director so desires) play the small parts. They comment on the play and on life in general. Their point of view is working class and poetic. Both the Auroras and the Players honor the labors of love from which the best things in life emerge.