I Puritani was written in three acts – the BLO production will be played in two parts with one intermission. I Puritani will be sung in Italian. The equivalent (sung) Italian names appear in the synopsis in parenthesizes.

Part 1 

The Puritan governor Lord Walton (Lord Gualterio Valton) had  promised his daughter Elvira to Sir Richard Forth (Sir Riccardo Forth) a captain in his army but persuaded by his brother George (Sir Giorgio Valton) that she is desperately in love with a cavalier –  Sir Arthur  Talbot (Lord Arturo Talbo) agrees to the marriage in spite of the political consequences. Richard is deeply frustrated and bitterly angry at the decision while Elvira is surprised at her father’s change of heart but obviously overjoyed. The wedding is prepared and Arthur arrives for the ceremony. Walton explains that he must take a female political prisoner who has been held in the fortress to London to stand trial. Arthur recognizes her as Henrietta (Enrichetta di Francia) widow of the executed King. To save her from certain death, he smuggles her out of the castle by disguising her in Evira’s wedding veil and passing her off as his bride to be. Richard surprises them, challenges Arthur to a duel but in the end but allows them to pass hoping thereby to forever disgrace his rival. Elvira informed of their escape can only assume that Arthur has cruelly humiliated and publicly betrayed her and her confused mind begins to splinter.  She sees herself as the figure of the white- veiled Henrietta (“He looks at her and call her his bride – Is Elvira the lady? Am I no longer Elvira”) She deliriously imagines the happy transports of the wedding but then she berates Arthur’s cruelty  and treachery and cries out – ” Cruel man  do you abandon  me who loves you so much? Burning wrath sweeps through me…fury tears my heart….this burning fever will destroy me.”

Part 2

Arthur has been condemned to death for treason. George sees Elvira senseless with despair, weeping, unable to find any relief – wandering aimlessly – now  joyfully recreating  her lost marriage ceremony and her passionate reunion with Arthur – now bemoaning her happiness seeming lost forever. He implores Richard to put aside his hatred and vengeful pursuit and to save Arthur’s life fearing that Elvira will die of grief if she should learn of his death. The passion of his appeal wins over Richard and he agrees.

Arthur having led Henrietta to safety, returns to Plymouth to reunite with Elvira. Although closely pursued by puritan soldiers, he makes contact with her and explains the real reason for his sudden disappearance. Comforted, she regains her lucidity for a time but her mental stability has been shattered and suddenly relapsing into delusion she has a vision that Arthur will desert her once again. She calls for the soldiers who arrest him and take him to be executed, but word of a pardon arrives and it seems that Arthur is saved and can be united with Elvira.