“The Rivals” by Richard Brinsley Sheridan is a amusing drama. and it has no true calamity in it. So. no affair how it is produced. it is humourous. However. there are several characters and subplots that could be emphasized if “The Rivals” were to be produced as a riant comedy or a sentimental comedy. and there are still other characters and subplots that would most appeal to a modern-day American audience. These will be discussed below.
First. a riant comedy of “The Rivals” would non be complete without certain characters. These irraplacible people are the servant Fag. Captain Absolute. and Lydia Languish–who is competently named for her romantic dreams. Fag is such a run-around. informing his maestro of all kinds of things throughout the drama. and acquiring himself into problem in the procedure.
Similarly. his maestro. Captain Absolute. is busy keeping two identities–that of Ensign Beverley for the interest of Lydia’s romantic impressions and that of himself. until he finds out his male parent really wants him to get married Lydia every bit good. Last but non least. Lydia herself is rather the romantic. or at least she dreams she is. She wants to run off with Ensign Beverley. even after his true individuality is revealed. and she weeps because her dream is lost. Of class. in the terminal she is joyous to be get marrieding her lover. even though he is non a hapless Ensign.
A sentimental comedy needs some of the same characters. those being Lydia and Captain Absolute. However. such a production besides requires Mrs. Malaprop. Bob Acres. Sir Anthony. Julia. and Faulkland. Much of the comedy in this instance comes from Mrs. Malaprop. whose falsely sophisticated addresss are ever doing her sound amusing. but really hard to grok.
Bob Acres provides more amusing alleviation. as he is convinced “The Rivals” he can win Lydia’s love by repairing his hair and clean uping himself. Following in similar is Sir Anthony. This 1 is a serious character. until he finds out about his son’s double individualities. Then. he even goes every bit far as to oppugn whether Captain Absolute is his boy. and this is downright humourous. From so on. he is a gay character and good story at times. Julia and Faulkland are amusing. excessively. because they remind the modern reader of a situation comedy. in which there are many misinterpretations. but which ends “happily of all time after. ”
Next. there are several characters that would appeal to a modern-day American Audience. even today. These are Fag. Mrs. Malaprop. Lucy the amah. and Captain Absolute. As has been stated antecedently. Fag is an highly humourous character. and his wit makes him sympathetic and easy to associate to. Mrs. Malaprop is similar. although her sophisticated addresss could besides do her frustrating.
In add-on. Lucy the amah is really human. Most people. whether consciously or unconsciously. be given to maintain path of what they have done for others. Lucy does this at the terminal of Act I when she counts up her mark for being the mediator for all the lovers in the drama. All the characters in “The Rivals” are sympathetic. down-to-earth in a amusing way–that is. they are non serious most of the time–and this makes them easy for a modern-day audience to place with.
In decision. Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s “The Rivals” is a really adaptable drama. It is a comedy in every instance. but it is various every bit good. It can be performed or produced as a riant comedy. a sentimental comedy. a short farse. or even a study of modern-day life in many civilizations. This is an gratifying drama to read and would most probably be fun to watch and listen to every bit good.
Beginnings
Sheridan. Richard Brinsley.Oxford World’s Classics: The School for Scandal and Other Plaies. Oxford University Press.