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ACT ONE

The scene opens on a lively church fair in a small Bohemian town, where rejoicing villagers are extolling the pleasures of love. Not all are happy, however--Mařenka, a pretty young peasant girl, and her lover Jeník are devastated that her parents are planning to marry her off to someone else--the son of Micha, a rich farmer, whom she hasn’t even met. She declares her deep and passionate love for Jeník only, though she wonders why she doesn’t know much about his past. (Kdybych se co takového) The couple swears their loyalty to one another. Hearing someone coming, Jeník leaves, and Mařenka hides.

Mařenka’s parents, Krušina and Ludmila, arrive with Kecal, the marriage broker. Kecal has been negotiating a match between Micha’s very wealthy son, Vašek, and their daughter. (Micha’s other son mysteriously disappeared years ago; Mařenka was promised long ago to marry Micha’s son, and so she must take the only one that is left.) Mařenka comes out from hiding, and her parents