John Burgoyne

The Heiress; a comedy, in five acts

"The Heiress; a comedy, in five acts" by John Burgoyne is a play that debuted in 1786. Lord Gayville finds himself engaged to Miss Alscrip, a fashionable woman he believes will inherit a fortune. But appearances can be deceiving. When Gayville discovers the true heiress is someone entirely different—Miss Clifford, the woman who holds his heart—he faces an impossible choice. This mistaken identity comedy became an enormous success, running for 31 performances and capturing London audiences with its wit and romantic intrigue.