The curtain rises on a chorus of lovesick maidens who are all infatuated with Bunthorne, a poet and artist extraordinaire. Bunthorne, however, is in love with a milkmaid named Patience who doesn’t understand love and all of the maidens lament with much melodrama. A chorus of military officers, called Dragoons appears led by Colonel Calverly,Major Murgatroyd, and the Duke of Dunstable. The Maidens led by Saphir, Angela, Ella and Jane, who were originally engaged to these Dragoons now refuse to marry because of their love for Bunthorne and his terrible poetry. Bunthorne woos Patience but she rejects him. Archibald Grosvenor, a beautiful poet, now enters and turns out to be Patience’s first love. Patience declares that she can never be with him because she believes love is defined by unselfish sacrifice. Bunthorne, reeling from Patience’s rejection, decides he will hold a raffle to determine which of his many admirers he will marry. The Dragoons try to convince the Maidens to marry them as promised, but they will not. Patience enters and announces that she will marry Bunthorne since she will be making a loving sacrifice. The Maidens once again are hopelessly smitten for a romantic poet in Grosvenor. The Duke, Colonel, and Major appear dressed as poets in hopes of regaining the Maidens’ love. The Maidens decide to reject poetry and practical young girls. The Dragoons are happily reunited with the Maidens. The Duke chooses Lady Jane as his bride. Grosvenor declares that he will now be a commonplace young man who works in business and doesn’t write poetry. Patience seeing that Grosvenor is no longer an idealized hero, decides she will marry him. Bunthorne, who once had his pick of all women, is now left alone, crushed.
Family/Children"
