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Place: Rural France
Time: the 17th century
Overture
Act 1
In a forest
Sganarelle is a drunken wood-cutter who ill-treats his wife (Duo "Non, je te dis que je n'en veux rien faire"). She is waiting for a chance for revenge (Couplet "Toute femme tient"), when Valère and Lucas, servants of wealthy Géronte, present themselves in search of a doctor for Géronte's daughter, Lucinde who is feigning dumbness in order to avoid an unpalatable marriage.
Martine, Sganarelle's wife tells Valère and Lucas that her husband is a learned doctor, but will refuse to practise his art unless he is given a thrashing. They find the oblivious wood-cutter drinking (Couplet "Qu'ils sont doux"), and force him (Trio "Monsieur n'est ce pas"), by blows to admit his imputed profession and go with them. (Chorus "Nous faisons tous")
Act 2
A room in Géronte's house
In the entr'acte, Léandre sings a serenade for Lucinde (Sérénade "Est-on sage"). Géronte complains to Lucinde's nurse Jacqueline's that he has got a rich husband in line for Lucinde as Léandre is too poor (Couplet "D'un bout du monde"). Sganarelle puts on an act as a doctor with nonsense words and false treatments (Sextet "Eh bien, charmante demoiselle"; Finale "Sans nous").
Act 3
Entr'acte: Géronte's house
(Air "Vive la médicine") After Sganarelle has been introduced to the 'patient' Lucinde, her lover Léandre obtains an interview with him, and under the disguise of an apothecary, arranges an elopement with Lucinde while the mock doctor distracts the father. (Scene and chorus "Sarviteur Monsieur le Docteur")
(Change of scenery) Sganarelle and Jacqueline flirt (Duo "Ah! que j'en suis, belle nourrice"). When the mock doctor and his apothecary return, Lucinde sees her lover and instantly regains the power of speech. (Quintet "Rien n'est capable") Géronte's fury is so great he is about to call for justice and to have Sganarelle hanged, when Léandre announces his father-in-law that he has just inherited a large property from an uncle. Géronte's objection to Léandre (his poverty) is thus overcome, Sganarelle is saved from punishment, Martine claims the credit for her husband's social elevation – and Sganarelle forgives her (Finale).
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