The Rivals

By Richard Brinsley Sheridan

Book Overview

"The Rivals" is a quintessential comedy of manners written by the celebrated playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Set in the fashionable society of 18th-century Bath, the play masterfully explores the absurdities of romantic courtship and the social pressures of the era. The plot centers on the wealthy and romantic Lydia Languish, who desires to marry a poor man for the sake of love, prompting her suitor, Captain Jack Absolute, to disguise himself as the penniless Ensign Beverley.

Through a series of hilarious misunderstandings, forged letters, and cases of mistaken identity, Sheridan satirizes the sentimentalism and vanity of the upper classes. The play is renowned for its vibrant cast of characters, most notably Mrs. Malaprop, whose iconic misuse of language gave rise to the term "malapropism." With its sharp wit, fast-paced dialogue, and enduring charm, "The Rivals" remains one of the most beloved and frequently performed works in the English theatrical canon. This masterpiece of Georgian drama offers a brilliant critique of 18th-century social conventions while delivering timeless entertainment through its clever wordplay and comedic situations.

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025515366
• ISBN13: 9781025515366
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 196 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Great!

Ordered this book for a college english class. Shipped fast and was a great deal, why order a new book when there are used ones in great condition!

Sparking, Witty Comedy!

If you've ever wondered what an 18th century sit-com would have been like, you have only to read The Rivals. The dialogue and clever use of language is an absolute delight. Hilarious perfection!

A Classic Comedy of Manners - Gentle, Humorous Satire

The editor, Alan Downer, cautions the reader (as opposed to a spectator of the play) "not to allow himself to be troubled by the labyrinthine mechanics of the plot". Enjoy the comic aspects of the moment; the play will take care of itself. Downer argues that Sheridan envisioned The Rivals as a series of comic scenes, not necessarily a tightly woven plot. In his preface Richard Brinsley Sheridan reminds the readers that this play was not initially well received and, in fact, he had to withdraw the play to remove imperfections. His later version was more successful and today The Rivals is one of the few English comedies from that period that continues to interest modern audiences. I found the beginning slow. The author's wordy preface was followed by a prologue in which two lawyers plead with the audience to give this play fair consideration. On the tenth night a new prologue replaced the pleading as it was now obvious that the revised play was indeed successful. In Act 1 I had some difficulty keeping track of the characters and I chose to reread the first act before proceeding. Thereafter, the going was much smoother and I began to appreciate the foibles of the characters and their confused machinations. The protagonist, the young Captain Absolute, was sensible for the most part, although his plan to woo the capricious Lydia Languish was obviously destined for trouble. The other characters included his excitable father Sir Anthony Absolute, his father's patient ward Julia, the silly Mrs. Malaprop, the comic gentleman wooers Faulkland, Acres, and Sir Lucius O'Trigger, and the conniving servants Fag, David, Thomas, and Lucy. While Sheridan does encourage us to laugh at his characters, his satire is gentle. His characters are not at all unlikable, just a little eccentric and possibly not overly intelligent. I recently read and reviewed Sheridan's enjoyable The School for Scandal and I recommend that the reader new to Sheridan begin with it rather than The Rivals. Both plays are short and can be read with little difficulty with the help of an occasional footnote. For my reading of The Rivals I used the Crofts Classics edition in which Alan Downer provides a useful introduction, a list of key dates in Sheridan's life, footnotes, and a bibliography. I give four stars to The Rivals. I previously rated The School for Scandal as five stars.

Ageless comedy

This is the first major comedy by Sheridan, a radical Irish actor and politician in George III's England. Not quite as complex and astute as his later She Stoops to Conquer, the Rivals remains a warm, unforgettable, and very, very funny play. Here we meet the chatty Mrs. Malaprop, who proudly tells us "if I reprehend anything in this world, it is the use of my oracular tongue, and a nice derangement of epitaphs"; her niece Lydia, lost in the world of lurid half-bound romantic novels; Sir Anthony Absolute, often wrong but never in doubt; Sir Lucious O'Trigger, of BlunderBuss Hall; and the rest. The dialogue and plot devices are well-crafted and funny; the social commentary is perceptive and satisfyingly naughty; but what stays with you is the humanity of each of the characters. These are not the charicatures of Restoration comedy, but personalties the reader will remember; ridiculous like all humans, but engendering empathy as well as laughter.