49:
210:) had given up her career as a singer. This was proper for a gentleman's wife, but it was difficult because Eliza would have earned a substantial income as a performer. Instead, the Sheridans lived beyond their means as they entertained the gentry and nobility with Eliza's singing (in private parties) and Richard's wit. Finally, in need of funds, Richard turned to the only craft that could gain him the remuneration he desired in a short time: he began writing a play. Over the years, he had written and published essays and poems, and among his papers were numerous unfinished plays, essays and political tracts, but never had he undertaken such an ambitious project as this. In a short time, however, he completed
279:
379:
489:
475:
920:
246:
For my own part, I see no reason why the author of a play should not regard a first night's audience as a candid and judicious friend attending, in behalf of the public, at his last rehearsal. If he can dispense with flattery, he is sure at least of sincerity, and even though the annotation be rude,
360:
The plot centres on the two young lovers, Lydia and Jack. Lydia, who reads a lot of popular novels of the time, wants a purely romantic love affair. To court her, Jack pretends to be "Ensign
Beverley", a poor army officer. Lydia is enthralled with the idea of eloping with a poor soldier in spite of
409:
Bob Acres tells Sir Lucius that another man ("Beverley") is courting the lady of Acres' choice (Lydia, though Sir Lucius does not know this). Sir Lucius immediately declares that Acres must challenge "Beverley" to a duel and kill him. Acres goes along, and writes out a challenge note – despite his
401:
As the play opens, Sir
Anthony arrives suddenly in Bath. He has arranged a marriage for Jack, but Jack demurs, saying he is in love already. They quarrel violently. But Jack soon learns through the gossip of Lucy and Fag that the marriage arranged by Sir Anthony is, in fact, with Lydia. He makes a
397:
Lydia has two other suitors: Bob Acres (a somewhat buffoonish country gentleman), and Sir Lucius O'Trigger, an impoverished and combative Irish gentleman. Sir Lucius pays Lucy to carry love notes between him and Lydia (who uses the name "Delia"), but Lucy is swindling him: "Delia" is actually Mrs.
417:
Sir Lucius has also learned of the proposed marriage of Jack and Lydia, and determines to challenge Jack. He meets Jack, who, smarting from Lydia's rejection, agrees to fight him without even knowing the reason. They will meet at the same time as Acres is scheduled to fight "Beverley".
421:
At the duelling ground, Acres is very reluctant to fight, but Sir Lucius will have no shirking. Jack and
Faulkland arrive. Acres learns that "Beverley" is actually his friend Jack, and begs off from their duel. However, Jack is quite willing to fight Sir Lucius, and they cross swords.
405:
Jack's friend
Faulkland is in love with Julia, but he suffers from jealous suspicion. He is constantly fretting himself about her fidelity. Faulkland and Julia quarrel foolishly, making elaborate and high-flown speeches about true love that satirise the romantic dramas of the period.
402:
great show of submission to his father, and is presented to Lydia with Mrs. Malaprop's blessing. Jack confides to Lydia that he is only posing as Sir
Anthony's son. She annoys Mrs. Malaprop by loudly professing her eternal devotion to "Beverley" while rejecting "Jack Absolute".
923:
425:
David informs Mrs. Malaprop, Lydia, Julia, and Sir
Anthony of the duel, and they all rush off to stop it. Sir Lucius explains the cause of his challenge, but Lydia denies any connection to him, and admits her love for Jack. Mrs. Malaprop announces that
410:
own rather more pacifist feelings, and the profound misgivings of his servant David. Sir Lucius leaves, Jack arrives, and Acres tells him of his intent. Jack agrees to deliver the note to "Beverley", but declines to be Acres' second.
242:? — is it me, or the matter?" Apparently, it was both. Sheridan immediately withdrew the play and in the next 11 days, rewrote the original (the Larpent manuscript) extensively, including a new preface in which he allowed:
544:, whose name is changed from the original play's "Lydia Languish" to "Lydia Lynley." The episode, telecast midway through the series' second season, was called "The Rivals" and the playwright Sheridan was given due credit.
255:, in the role of O'Trigger, the play reopened on 28 January to significant acclaim. Indeed, it became a favourite of the royal family, receiving five command performances in ten years, and also in the Colonies (it was
233:
as Julia
Melville. It was roundly vilified by both the public and the critics for its length, for its bawdiness and for the character of Sir Lucius O'Trigger being a meanly written role played very badly. The actor,
413:
Mrs. Malaprop again presents Jack to Lydia, but this time with Sir
Anthony present, exposing Jack's pose as "Beverley". Lydia is enraged by the puncturing of her romantic dreams, and spurns Jack contemptuously.
430:
is Delia, but Sir Lucius recoils in horror, realising that he has been hoaxed. Sir
Anthony consoles Mrs. Malaprop, Julia is reconciled to Faulkland, and Acres invites everyone to a party.
361:
the objections of her guardian, Mrs. Malaprop, a moralistic widow. Mrs. Malaprop is the chief comic figure of the play, thanks to her continual misuse of words that
48:
357:", which were believed to have healing properties. Bath society was much less exclusive than London, and hence it provides an ideal setting for the characters.
769:
956:
639:. These take place in Cornwall, London, Quebec, the American colonies during both the Seven Years' War and the American Revolution, and Portugal.
635:
The leading character of the play was taken to be the identity of the hero of a series of historic fictional adventure books by actor/novelist
1081:
675:, the production eventually opened on 15 July 2022. The play has been updated to July 1940 to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the
251:
Sheridan also apologised for any impression that O'Trigger was intended as an insult to
Ireland. Rewritten and with a new actor,
949:
1091:
17:
529:
238:, after being hit with an apple during the performance, stopped and addressed the audience, asking "By the pow'rs, is it
525:
942:
1029:
614:
600:
532:'s cousin, until after Garner had left the series two seasons later). The Absolutes were renamed "Vandergelt" with
259:'s favourite play). It became a standard show in the repertoires of 19th-century companies in England and the US.
524:, and was the only episode of the series in which Garner and Moore appeared together (Moore did not portray "
448:
31:
1116:
913:
1055:
966:
650:
503:
169:
161:
62:
668:
235:
1096:
707:
350:
278:
1101:
1005:
848:
824:
593:
168:
on 17 January 1775. The story has been updated frequently, including a 1935 musical and a 1958
1111:
997:
533:
165:
114:
1106:
1060:
512:
267:
207:
174:
8:
1086:
751:
557:
452:
378:
719:
700:
286:
266:
was coined in reference to one of the characters in the play. She was first played by
1021:
934:
902:
753:
The Dramatic Works of Richard Brinsley Sheridan with an Introduction by Joseph Knight
676:
672:
605:
354:
256:
157:
132:
714:
Fintan O’Toole, The Traitor's Kiss: The Life of Richard Brinsley Sheridan, 1751–1816
774:
581:
569:
786:
459:
at London's Kingsway Theatre in October 1935. The musical ran for 86 performances.
371:
263:
1013:
636:
565:
507:
488:
456:
390:
252:
1037:
778:
346:
203:
142:
866:
262:
The play is now considered to be one of Sheridan's masterpieces, and the term
1075:
624:
619:
474:
327:
226:
660:
656:
610:
541:
517:
478:
460:
382:
230:
179:
907:
767:
Levitt, John. "Bulkley née Wilford; other married name Barresford, Mary".
324:
Lydia Languish, a wealthy teenaged heiress, in love with "Ensign Beverley"
202:
was Sheridan's first play. At the time, he was a young newlywed living in
895:
829:
577:
573:
561:
553:
537:
521:
492:
333:
Julia Melville, a young relation of the Absolutes, in love with Faulkland
183:
989:
306:
353:
and fashion at the time. Wealthy, fashionable people went there to "
929:
849:"December 23, Home Service 8.30 p.m. National Theatre of the Air"
295:
603:
produced a version which was broadcast in 1970 as part of their
206:. At Sheridan's insistence, upon marriage his wife Eliza (born
300:
Captain Jack Absolute, his son, disguised as Ensign Beverley
834:
466:
799:“Rivals at the Kingsway.” Daily Express , 24 Oct, 1935.
964:
580:
as Thomas. It was repeated on 23 December 1963 on the
813:. Manhattan: Sunflower University Press. p. 123.
716:(Farrar, Straus & Giroux 1998), at New Criterion.
584:
as part of the "National Theatre of the Air" series.
587:
630:
617:production was broadcast in 1989 as part of their
1073:
247:he may rely upon the justness of the comment.
950:
825:"The Rivals - Third Programme, 27 April 1962"
773:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
756:. Oxford University Press. 1930. p. 10.
642:
229:, London, on 17 January 1775, with comedian
692:(New Mermaids 1979, Elizabeth Duthie, Ed.).
375:was coined in reference to the character).
957:
943:
516:, starring the remarkably similar-looking
164:in five acts which was first performed at
47:
760:
594:adapted for Australian television in 1961
443:A successful musical production - titled
369:something completely different (the term
487:
473:
377:
277:
770:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
682:
365:like the words she intends to use, but
14:
1074:
808:
312:Sir Lucius O'Trigger, an Irish baronet
938:
855:, BBC, p. 24, 19 December 1963
671:in April 2020, however due to the
613:as Captain Jack Absolute. Another
547:
24:
1082:Plays by Richard Brinsley Sheridan
766:
463:attended one of the performances.
303:Faulkland, friend of Jack Absolute
25:
1128:
889:
697:Richard Brinsley Sheridan, A Life
588:Additional television productions
438:
27:Play by Richard Brinsley Sheridan
918:
631:Jack Absolute novels (2003–2006)
349:, a town that was legendary for
345:The play is set in 18th-century
294:Sir Anthony Absolute, a wealthy
722:(1751–1816) at Theatre History.
552:In 1962, a radio production by
315:Fag, Captain Absolute's servant
859:
841:
817:
802:
793:
744:
733:
433:
330:, Lydia's middle-aged guardian
13:
1:
1092:Plays set in the 18th century
726:
321:Thomas, Sir Anthony's servant
273:
194:
837:. 19 April 1962. p. 57.
787:UK public library membership
655:A new adaptation written by
502:The play was rewritten as a
470:television adaptation (1958)
336:Lucy, Lydia's conniving maid
217:
7:
928:public domain audiobook at
809:Rosing, Ruth Glean (1993).
688:Richard Brinsley Sheridan,
667:was due to premiere at the
32:The Rivals (disambiguation)
10:
1133:
1030:The Glorious First of June
914:Internet Broadway Database
811:Val Rosing: Musical Genius
648:
189:
29:
1056:Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
1048:
973:
967:Richard Brinsley Sheridan
720:Richard Brinsley Sheridan
665:Jack Absolute Flies Again
651:Jack Absolute Flies Again
644:Jack Absolute Flies Again
627:as Sir Anthony Absolute.
568:as Sir Anthony Absolute,
318:David, Bob Acres' servant
309:, friend of Jack Absolute
283:Bob Acres and His Servant
162:Richard Brinsley Sheridan
138:
128:
120:
110:
102:
68:
63:Richard Brinsley Sheridan
58:
46:
41:
909:The Rivals
669:National Theatre, London
576:as Captain Absolute and
536:as the wealthy father.
351:conspicuous consumption
340:
225:was first performed at
1006:The School for Scandal
779:10.1093/ref:odnb/39764
709:The Scholar of Scandal
538:Patricia "Pat" Crowley
499:
485:
394:
290:
249:
92:Captain Jack Absolute
998:A Trip to Scarborough
491:
477:
385:as Lydia Languish in
381:
281:
244:
178:(see below) starring
166:Covent Garden Theatre
115:Covent Garden Theatre
90:Sir Anthony Absolute
80:Sir Lucius O'Trigger
1061:Elizabeth Ann Linley
683:Biographical sources
389:1899. Photograph by
186:, with attribution.
88:Errand boy servants
74:Miss Lydia Languish
30:For other uses, see
18:Sir Anthony Absolute
572:as Lydia Languish,
558:BBC Third Programme
453:John Robert Monsell
701:Sinclair-Stevenson
510:television series
500:
486:
395:
291:
287:Edwin Austin Abbey
285:, illustration by
145:, 'within one day'
1117:Plays set in Bath
1069:
1068:
903:Project Gutenberg
785:(Subscription or
677:Battle of Britain
673:COVID-19 pandemic
623:series, starring
609:series, starring
606:Play of the Month
564:as Mrs Malaprop,
257:George Washington
172:of the TV series
158:comedy of manners
149:
148:
133:Comedy of manners
121:Original language
16:(Redirected from
1124:
959:
952:
945:
936:
935:
922:
921:
883:
882:
880:
878:
863:
857:
856:
845:
839:
838:
821:
815:
814:
806:
800:
797:
791:
790:
782:
764:
758:
757:
748:
742:
740:Dramatis Personæ
737:
570:Fenella Fielding
548:Radio production
455:- was staged by
447:, with songs by
208:Elizabeth Linley
51:
39:
38:
21:
1132:
1131:
1127:
1126:
1125:
1123:
1122:
1121:
1072:
1071:
1070:
1065:
1044:
969:
963:
919:
892:
887:
886:
876:
874:
865:
864:
860:
847:
846:
842:
823:
822:
818:
807:
803:
798:
794:
784:
765:
761:
750:
749:
745:
738:
734:
729:
685:
653:
647:
637:Chris Humphreys
633:
590:
566:Baliol Holloway
550:
506:of the comedic
472:
457:Vladimir Rosing
441:
436:
391:Zaida Ben-Yusuf
355:take the waters
343:
276:
253:Laurence Clinch
220:
197:
192:
111:Place premiered
106:17 January 1775
97:
95:
93:
91:
89:
87:
85:
83:
81:
79:
77:
75:
73:
54:
35:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1130:
1120:
1119:
1114:
1109:
1104:
1099:
1097:West End plays
1094:
1089:
1084:
1067:
1066:
1064:
1063:
1058:
1052:
1050:
1046:
1045:
1043:
1042:
1034:
1026:
1018:
1010:
1002:
994:
986:
977:
975:
971:
970:
962:
961:
954:
947:
939:
933:
932:
916:
905:
891:
890:External links
888:
885:
884:
858:
840:
816:
801:
792:
759:
743:
731:
730:
728:
725:
724:
723:
717:
712:, a review of
706:Brooke Allen,
704:
693:
684:
681:
649:Main article:
646:
641:
632:
629:
589:
586:
549:
546:
471:
465:
451:and lyrics by
449:Herbert Hughes
440:
439:Musical (1935)
437:
435:
432:
342:
339:
338:
337:
334:
331:
325:
322:
319:
316:
313:
310:
304:
301:
298:
275:
272:
219:
216:
196:
193:
191:
188:
147:
146:
140:
136:
135:
130:
126:
125:
122:
118:
117:
112:
108:
107:
104:
103:Date premiered
100:
99:
70:
66:
65:
60:
56:
55:
52:
44:
43:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1129:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1110:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1102:British plays
1100:
1098:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1085:
1083:
1080:
1079:
1077:
1062:
1059:
1057:
1054:
1053:
1051:
1047:
1040:
1039:
1035:
1032:
1031:
1027:
1024:
1023:
1019:
1016:
1015:
1011:
1008:
1007:
1003:
1000:
999:
995:
992:
991:
987:
984:
983:
979:
978:
976:
972:
968:
960:
955:
953:
948:
946:
941:
940:
937:
931:
927:
926:
917:
915:
911:
910:
906:
904:
900:
899:
896:Full text of
894:
893:
872:
868:
862:
854:
850:
844:
836:
832:
831:
826:
820:
812:
805:
796:
788:
780:
776:
772:
771:
763:
755:
754:
747:
741:
736:
732:
721:
718:
715:
711:
710:
705:
702:
698:
695:Linda Kelly,
694:
691:
687:
686:
680:
678:
674:
670:
666:
662:
658:
652:
645:
640:
638:
628:
626:
625:Donald Sinden
622:
621:
620:Theatre Night
616:
612:
608:
607:
602:
597:
595:
592:The play was
585:
583:
579:
575:
571:
567:
563:
559:
555:
545:
543:
539:
535:
534:Neil Hamilton
531:
530:Bret Maverick
527:
526:Beau Maverick
523:
519:
515:
514:
509:
505:
498:
494:
490:
484:
480:
476:
469:
464:
462:
458:
454:
450:
446:
431:
429:
423:
419:
415:
411:
407:
403:
399:
392:
388:
384:
380:
376:
374:
373:
368:
364:
358:
356:
352:
348:
335:
332:
329:
328:Mrs. Malaprop
326:
323:
320:
317:
314:
311:
308:
305:
302:
299:
297:
293:
292:
288:
284:
280:
271:
269:
265:
260:
258:
254:
248:
243:
241:
237:
232:
228:
227:Covent Garden
224:
215:
213:
209:
205:
201:
187:
185:
181:
177:
176:
171:
167:
163:
159:
155:
154:
144:
141:
137:
134:
131:
127:
123:
119:
116:
113:
109:
105:
101:
72:Mrs Malaprop
71:
67:
64:
61:
57:
53:1795 playbill
50:
45:
40:
37:
33:
19:
1112:Comedy plays
1036:
1028:
1020:
1012:
1004:
996:
988:
981:
980:
924:
908:
897:
875:. Retrieved
870:
867:"The Rivals"
861:
852:
843:
828:
819:
810:
804:
795:
768:
762:
752:
746:
739:
735:
713:
708:
696:
689:
664:
661:Oliver Chris
657:Richard Bean
654:
643:
634:
618:
611:Jeremy Brett
604:
598:
591:
582:Home Service
551:
542:leading lady
518:James Garner
511:
504:1958 episode
501:
496:
482:
479:James Garner
467:
444:
442:
427:
424:
420:
416:
412:
408:
404:
400:
396:
386:
383:Elsie Leslie
370:
366:
362:
359:
344:
282:
261:
250:
245:
239:
231:Mary Bulkley
222:
221:
211:
199:
198:
180:James Garner
173:
152:
151:
150:
36:
1107:Irish plays
877:21 February
853:Radio Times
830:Radio Times
578:John Hollis
574:Hugh Burden
562:Fay Compton
554:R. D. Smith
522:Roger Moore
493:Roger Moore
434:Adaptations
387:The Rivals,
372:malapropism
264:malapropism
184:Roger Moore
1087:1775 plays
1076:Categories
1022:The Critic
990:The Duenna
982:The Rivals
925:The Rivals
898:The Rivals
789:required.)
727:References
690:The Rivals
540:plays the
461:Queen Mary
398:Malaprop.
274:Characters
268:Jane Green
223:The Rivals
212:The Rivals
200:The Rivals
195:Production
153:The Rivals
76:Faulkland
69:Characters
59:Written by
42:The Rivals
965:Plays by
560:featured
307:Bob Acres
289:, c. 1895
218:Reception
86:Coachman
1014:The Camp
930:LibriVox
556:for the
513:Maverick
497:Maverick
483:Maverick
468:Maverick
240:personal
236:John Lee
175:Maverick
1049:Related
1038:Pizarro
912:at the
871:YouTube
663:titled
508:Western
445:Rivals!
296:baronet
190:History
170:episode
139:Setting
124:English
1041:(1799)
1033:(1794)
1025:(1779)
1017:(1778)
1009:(1777)
1001:(1777)
993:(1775)
985:(1775)
783:
703:1997).
94:Julia
84:David
78:Acres
974:Plays
873:. BBC
363:sound
156:is a
129:Genre
96:Lucy
879:2022
659:and
599:The
520:and
367:mean
347:Bath
341:Plot
204:Bath
182:and
143:Bath
98:Maid
82:Fag
901:at
835:BBC
775:doi
615:BBC
601:BBC
528:,"
495:in
481:as
428:she
160:by
1078::
869:.
851:,
833:.
827:.
679:.
596:.
270:.
214:.
958:e
951:t
944:v
881:.
781:.
777::
699:(
393:.
34:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
