
ACT 1
A poor peasant named Nemorino swoons over the beautiful and elusive landowner, Adina. Surrounded by her workers, she tells the tale of Tristan and Isolde, in which a love potion begins a forbidden love affair. The fantastical story inspires Nemorino to seek out a love potion of his own so he might make Adina fall in love with him.
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In front of the crowd, the pompous Sergeant Belcore appears with his regiment and begins to flirt with Adina. Poor Nemorino worries she will fall for Belcore's charm and pulls Adina aside to confess his love. Adina, who is looking for a better match, turns him down.
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Doctor Dulcamara, a scheming traveling doctor who sells fraudulent "cure-all" potions, arrives in town. Crestfallen, Nemorino is determined to win over Adina. He asks the quack doctor if he has a love potion for sale. The doctor jumps on the chance to make a buck and scams Nemorino into buying a bottle of cheap wine, claiming it is an elixir of love. Dulcamara tells him the potion will not take effect for 24 hours to avoid being caught. Nemorino innocently gives all his money to the doctor and quickly drinks the "elixir."
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The now intoxicated but emboldened Nemorino pretends not to care for Adina, believing that the next day, the potion will make her fall in love with him. Adina becomes frustrated by his rebuttal and wants to teach him a lesson. Could it be she secretly has feelings for Nemorino? She accepts Sergeant Belcore's proposal and falsely promises to marry him in 6 days. Nemorino is unaffected, believing that tomorrow will change everything and he will be irresistible to Adina. However, Belcore's regiment must leave the following day, and Adina agrees to marry him before he leaves. Nemorino is crushed and pleads for the doctor to help him.
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ACT 2
The wedding party has begun, and the entire village is there, except for heartbroken Nemorino. His absence frustrates Adina, who only followed through with the wedding to punish him for his apathy. Meanwhile, Nemorino pleads with Doctor Dulcamara to give him another potion. Repulsed by his lack of funds, the doctor refuses. Sergeant Belcore emerges and sees the sorrowful Nemorino. After inquiring about his depression, Nemorino confesses he has no money. The sergeant tells him that if he were to join the army, he would receive cash the same day! Thinking only of the potion and winning Adina, he agrees and signs the military contract in exchange for funds. Nemorino flees to buy more of the potion, and Dulcamara is happy to see his rival leave.
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In the men's absence, the women of town appear and begin to gossip. They speak secretly about the passing of Nemorino's wealthy uncle, and they reveal that he will be rewarded with a large sum of money. Unaware of his newfound wealth, Nemorino enters again, emboldened by the cheap wine disguised as his second love potion. The women become enamored with him (and his new fortune), which stirs jealousy in Adina. She approaches the doctor and inquires about Nemorino's sudden popularity. Dulcamara reveals that Nemorino joined the army for the money and gave the doctor all he owned so he might purchase a love potion. Adina realizes that Nemorino truly loves her and regrets what she has done. She has loved him all along! When offered a potion of her own to win back Nemorino, she turns the doctor away and states that she is confident in herself and will win him back on her own.Â
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Nemorino, now alone, reflects on Adina, who had a tear in her eye when he saw her last. The tear convinces him she is in love with him, and he seeks her out! When they come together, Adina reveals that he is loved and that she has bought his contract from the sergeant. She begs him to forgive her for ignoring him, and he does so with a kiss! Adina calls off the wedding, and the two confess their love for each other! They learn of Nemorino's inheritance, and their love is hailed as a product of Dulcamara's Elixir. The townspeople rush to the doctor to buy their own "elixir of love."
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