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Overview

Synopsis

Mr. Horner is the most renowned Ladies Man in town and has ruined his chances of getting close to any more women. He couldn’t possibly give up on his desires, so he decides to get a doctor to spread the rumor in town that he has become a Eunuch and is no longer a threat to men’s wives. The Doctor is sure that this scheme will backfire, but Horner’s plan works and he begins to get access to the wives of the wealthy men in town. A man named Pinchwife, however, who was recently married to a woman from the country, hasn’t heard the rumors of Horner’s impotency and becomes so paranoid and jealous that he keeps his new country wife locked away at home. This jealousy backfires and eventually leads his wife right into the arms of the man he’s scared of: Mr. Horner. Through a series of miscommunications, lies, disguises and more, we watch men filled with jealousy, men duping other men, men oblivious to infidelity, and women just looking for attention while preserving their reputations. It turns out that pleasure isn’t as easy to come by as it seems.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
5
First Produced
1675
Genres
Comedy
Time & Place
London, 17th Century
Cast Size
medium
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Regional Theatre, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Elderly, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Mrs. Margery Pinchwife

Lead

Female

Spoken

Mr. Pinchwife

Lead

Male

Spoken

Mr. Horner

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Lucy

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Mr. Dorilant

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Sir Jasper Fidget

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Alithea

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Lady Fidget

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Mr. Harcourt

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Quack

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Mr. Sparkish

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Mrs. Dainty Fidget

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Lady Squeamish

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Old Lady Squeamish

Featured

Female

Spoken

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

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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

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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