The Lucky Chance

Synopsis

A bustling London street in the late 17th century.

Sir Feeble Fainwould is an elderly man who has arranged to marry the young and beautiful Julia, and Gayman, a penniless gallant in love with the married Lady Fulbank. As these characters navigate a web of desire, deception, and financial desperation, they find themselves entangled in a series of farcical situations and risqué encounters.

Aphra Behn’s wickedly funny comedy of manners skewers the sexual politics and social conventions of her time. The play’s intricate plot is driven by disguises, mistaken identities, and elaborate schemes, all building to a climactic gambling scene that gives the play its title. Behn’s dialogue crackles with innuendo and double entendres, pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable on the Restoration stage. Through its exploration of marriage, fidelity, and female agency, The Lucky Chance offers a subversive critique of patriarchal society, challenging audiences to question the moral standards of the day.