The Busie Body

"The Busie Body" by Susanna Centlivre is a comedy written in the early 18th century. This light-hearted play centers around the themes of intrigue and mistaken identity, featuring characters such as the jealous guardian Sir Francis Gripe and the clever heiress Miranda. It reflects the comedic tradition of the time, focusing on the foibles of love and the absurdity of social conventions. The opening of the play introduces us to Sir George and Charles in a park, where they engage in witty banter about love and financial matters. Sir George expresses his feelings for Miranda, while Charles laments his father's avarice and his own inability to inherit his uncle's estate until he comes of age. Their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of Marplot, a foolish character whose propensity to meddle is highlighted early on. The humorous exchanges set the tone for the play, establishing a backdrop of romantic entanglements and comical misunderstandings that will define the unfolding drama. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Susanna Centlivre, born Susanna Freeman, and also known professionally as Susanna Carroll, was an English poet, actress, and "the most successful female playwright of the eighteenth century". Centlivre's "pieces continued to be acted after the theatre managers had forgotten most of her contemporaries." During a long career at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, she became known as the second woman of the English stage, after Aphra Behn.