The Rivals

Autor: Sheridan, Richard B

Editorial: Dover

Lenguaje: Inglés Internacional

ISBN13: 9780486404332

Reseña: 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 Jacks autocratic father Sir Lucius OTrigger a fiery Irishman and Jacks provincial neighbor Bob Acres a bumptious but lovable country squire in love with Lydia. Hoping to win Lydias 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 Lydias 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.