The Busie Body

Susanna Centlivre

Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(2.8 stars; 5 reviews)

A rich heiress pretending to be in love with her guardian, but with several other suitors. A jealous merchant from Spain with a beautiful but cloistered daughter. A Busy Body who tries to know everybody else's business. Conniving servants. Plot elements stolen - and improved - from Moliere, Johnson, and Dryden. Definitely comedy, and written by a very successful woman playwright.
- Summary by ToddHW

Cast list:
Sir George Airy. A Gentleman of Four Thousand a Year in Love with Miranda: Greg Giordano
Sir Francis Gripe. Guardian to Miranda and Marplot, Father to Charles, in Love with Miranda: Mike Manolakes
Charles. Friend to Sir George, in Love with Isabinda: Jim Locke
Sir Jealous Traffick. A Merchant that had liv'd sometime in Spain, a great Admirer of the Spanish Customs, Father to Isabinda: Alan Mapstone
Marplot. A sort of a silly Fellow, Cowardly, but very Inquisitive to know every Body's Business, generally spoils all he undertakes, yet without Design: ToddHW
Whisper. Servant to Charles: Larry Wilson
Miranda. An Heiress, worth Thirty Thousand Pound, really in Love with Sir George, but pretends to be so with her Guardian Sir Francis: Jenn Broda
Isabinda. Daughter to Sir Jealous, in Love with Charles, but design'd for a Spanish Merchant by her Father, and kept up from the sight of all Men: Grace Buchanan
Patch. Her Woman: Sonia
Scentwell. Woman to Miranda: WendyKatzHiller
Butler: David Purdy
Drawer: Michele Eaton
Servant: Andrew Gaunce
Stage Directions: Adrian Stephens
Editing: ToddHW
(2 hr 56 min)