La Surprise de l'amour

La Surprise de l'amour is a three-act romantic comedy by French playwright Marivaux.

Like many of Marivaux's other comedies, La Surprise de l'amour makes use of stock characters from the Commedia dell'arte.

The countess decides to avoid Lélio, but in doing so, she earns his respect and sets in motion the ideas of her servant Columbine.

Through the machinations of Columbine and Arlequin (who in turn fall in love themselves), the countess and Lélio ultimately end up together.

The play ends with three happy couples: Lélio and the countess, Arlequin and Columbine, and Pierre and Jacqueline.