In March of that year, he read the finished play to Kean and his wife, Ellen Tree, and it was accepted for production.
The play was finally produced in 1853 through the influence of Helen Faucit, who starred in the first production as the title character.
Prince Berthold, the claimant to the throne, arrives and attempts to take over the Duchy as its rightful heir.
The poor advocate of Cleves (Valance) tells Colombe the problems occurring in the city, but stands by her when Berthold attempts to take her throne.
[3] Describing it as "the closest that Browning wrote to political propaganda", Isobel Armstrong stated that the play can be taken as "anti-Corn Law" writing in the way that it promotes the welfare of the townspeople against the ruling class, here represented by the struggle between Valence and Colombe to rule the Duchy fairly.