Sheridan-The Rivals

During a brief but brilliant literary career Irish-born dramatist and statesman Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816) wrote cleverly plotted plays that revealed his nimble wit and keen eye for comic situations. Two of them — The School for Scandal and The Rivals — are among the funniest in the English language.The Rivals brimming with false identities and with romantic entanglements carried on amid a cloud of parental disapproval satirizes the pretentiousness and sentimentality of the age. It features a cast of memorable characters among them the lovely Lydia Languish whose pretty head has been filled with nonsense from romantic novels; Capt. Jack Absolute a young officer in love with Lydia; Sir Anthony Absolute Jack's autocratic father; Sir Lucius O'Trigger a fiery Irishman; and Jack's provincial neighbor Bob Acres a bumptious but lovable country squire in love with Lydia.Hoping to win Lydia's affection Captain Jack woos the pretty miss by pretending to be a penniless ensign named Beverley an act that nearly incites a duel with Acres. His actions also provoke serious objections from Lydia's aunt Mrs. Malaprop a misspeaking matron whose ludicrous misuse of words gave the English language a new term: malapropism. Ultimately the hilarious complications are resolved in a radiant comic masterpiece that will entertain and delight theater devotees and students of English drama alike.