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Overview

Synopsis

William Wycherley’s The Plain Dealer is the Restoration comedy adaptation of Moliere’s The Misanthrope. Manly is a captain--and a pretty terrible one who went to sea just to get away from people--and prides himself on his “plain dealing” with other people. However, he doesn’t see that what he prizes as honesty strikes others as rudeness, brashness, and cruelty. More than anything, though, Manly is in pursuit of the beautiful Olivia, a wealthy woman who is just as misanthropic as he is. To win her heart, Manly must contend with rival suitors, a litigious widow who relies on him to be her star witness, and his eager and loyal page. The love triangles are entangled with deception: Olivia falls in love with the page, who is actually a woman named Fidelia in disguise, because she is in love with Manly. An excellent example of early Restoration comedy of manners plays, The Plain Dealer satirizes London high society with Wycherley’s trademark wit, wordplay, and colorful characters.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
5
First Produced
1676
Genres
Comedy, Satire
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
London, 1670s
Cast Size
large
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, High School, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Child, Early Teen, Late Teen Characters

Context

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Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Freeman

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Manly

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Olivia

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Vernish

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Novel

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Major Oldfox

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Lord Plausible

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Jerry Blackacre

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Fidelia

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Eliza

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Widow Blackacre

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Lettice

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Boy

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Sailors (2)

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Ensemble

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Videos

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Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Cindi Calhoun

Cindi Calhoun

Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress