The Recruiting Officer

ISBN-13: 9780713633498 / Angielski / Miękka / 2008 / 192 str.

George Farquhar

Opis

Farquhar's last two plays, The Recruiting Officer and The Beaux'Stratagem, have been called 'the last worthwhile comedies of theRestoration tradition'. Written during Farquhar's stint in Shrewsburyas part of a recruiting mission in 1704-5, The Recruiting Officer is abuoyant, whimsical piece stocked by a fairly conventional cast ofcharacters: the rake-hero and his spirited lady (who dons breeches inthe course of the action), his sober friend and the heroine's seriousfriend, the buffoon/coxcomb and his ill-fated amorous or heroicventures. What makes the play entertaining is Farquhar's light, humanetouch; what makes it original is his depiction of a real-lifeprovincial town and the impact that ongoing warfare (in this case theWar of the Spanish Succession) had on its civilian society.