The Rivals

For other uses, seeThe Rivals (disambiguation).

The Rivalsis acomedy of mannersbyRichard Brinsley Sheridanin five acts which was first performed atCovent Garden Theatreon 17 January 1775.The story has been updated frequently, including a 1935 musical and a 1958episodeof the TV seriesMaverick(see below) starringJames GarnerandRoger Moore,with attribution.

The Rivals
1795 playbill
Written by	Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Characters	Mrs Malaprop Miss Lydia Languish Faulkland Acres Sir Lucius O'Trigger Fag David Coachman Errand boy servants Sir Anthony Absolute Captain Jack Absolute Julia Lucy Maid
Date premiered	17 January 1775
Place premiered	Covent Garden Theatre
Original language	English
Genre	Comedy of manners
Setting	Bath,'within one day'

History

Production

The Rivalswas Sheridan's first play. At the time, he was a young newlywed living inBath.At Sheridan's insistence, upon marriage his wife Eliza (bornElizabeth Linley) had given up her career as a singer. This was proper for a gentleman's wife, but it was difficult because Eliza would have earned a substantial income as a performer. Instead, the Sheridans lived beyond their means as they entertained the gentry and nobility with Eliza's singing (in private parties) and Richard's wit. Finally, in need of funds, Richard turned to the only craft that could gain him the remuneration he desired in a short time: he began writing a play. Over the years, he had written and published essays and poems, and among his papers were numerous unfinished plays, essays and political tracts, but never had he undertaken such an ambitious project as this. In a short time, however, he completedThe Rivals.

Reception

The Rivalswas first performed atCovent Garden,London, on 17 January 1775, with comedianMary Bulkleyas Julia Melville.It was roundly vilified by both the public and the critics for its length, for its bawdiness and for the character of Sir Lucius O'Trigger being a meanly written role played very badly. The actor,John Lee,after being hit with an apple during the performance, stopped and addressed the audience, asking "By the pow'rs, is itpersonal?— is it me, or the matter? "Apparently, it was both. Sheridan immediately withdrew the play and in the next 11 days, rewrote the original (the Larpent manuscript) extensively, including a new preface in which he allowed:

For my own part, I see no reason why the author of a play should not regard a first night's audience as a candid and judicious friend attending, in behalf of the public, at his last rehearsal. If he can dispense with flattery, he is sure at least of sincerity, and even though the annotation be rude, he may rely upon the justness of the comment.

Sheridan also apologised for any impression that O'Trigger was intended as an insult to Ireland. Rewritten and with a new actor,Laurence Clinch,in the role of O'Trigger, the play reopened on 28 January to significant acclaim. Indeed, it became a favourite of the royal family, receiving five command performances in ten years, and also in the Colonies (it wasGeorge Washington's favourite play). It became a standard show in the repertoires of 19th-century companies in England and the US.

The play is now considered to be one of Sheridan's masterpieces, and the termmalapropismwas coined in reference to one of the characters in the play. She was first played byJane Green.

Characters

Bob Acres and His Servant,illustration byEdwin Austin Abbey,c. 1895

• Sir Anthony Absolute, a wealthybaronet
• Captain Jack Absolute, his son, disguised as Ensign Beverley
• Faulkland, friend of Jack Absolute
• Bob Acres,friend of Jack Absolute
• Sir Lucius O'Trigger, an Irish baronet
• Fag, Captain Absolute's servant
• David, Bob Acres' servant
• Thomas, Sir Anthony's servant
• Lydia Languish, a wealthy teenaged heiress, in love with "Ensign Beverley"
• Mrs. Malaprop,Lydia's middle-aged guardian
• Julia Melville, a young relation of the Absolutes, in love with Faulkland
• Lucy, Lydia's conniving maid

Plot

The play is set in 18th-centuryBath,a town that was legendary forconspicuous consumptionand fashion at the time. Wealthy, fashionable people went there to "take the waters",which were believed to have healing properties. Bath society was much less exclusive than London, and hence it provides an ideal setting for the characters.

The plot centres on the two young lovers, Lydia and Jack. Lydia, who reads a lot of popular novels of the time, wants a purely romantic love affair. To court her, Jack pretends to be "Ensign Beverley", a poor army officer. Lydia is enthralled with the idea of eloping with a poor soldier in spite of the objections of her guardian, Mrs. Malaprop, a moralistic widow. Mrs. Malaprop is the chief comic figure of the play, thanks to her continual misuse of words thatsoundlike the words she intends to use, butmeansomething completely different (the termmalapropismwas coined in reference to the character).

Elsie Leslieas Lydia Languish inThe Rivals,1899. Photograph byZaida Ben-Yusuf.

Lydia has two other suitors: Bob Acres (a somewhat buffoonish country gentleman), and Sir Lucius O'Trigger, an impoverished and combative Irish gentleman. Sir Lucius pays Lucy to carry love notes between him and Lydia (who uses the name "Delia" ), but Lucy is swindling him: "Delia" is actually Mrs. Malaprop.

As the play opens, Sir Anthony arrives suddenly in Bath. He has arranged a marriage for Jack, but Jack demurs, saying he is in love already. They quarrel violently. But Jack soon learns through the gossip of Lucy and Fag that the marriage arranged by Sir Anthony is, in fact, with Lydia. He makes a great show of submission to his father, and is presented to Lydia with Mrs. Malaprop's blessing. Jack confides to Lydia that he is only posing as Sir Anthony's son. She annoys Mrs. Malaprop by loudly professing her eternal devotion to "Beverley" while rejecting "Jack Absolute".

Jack's friend Faulkland is in love with Julia, but he suffers from jealous suspicion. He is constantly fretting himself about her fidelity. Faulkland and Julia quarrel foolishly, making elaborate and high-flown speeches about true love that satirise the romantic dramas of the period.

Bob Acres tells Sir Lucius that another man ( "Beverley" ) is courting the lady of Acres' choice (Lydia, though Sir Lucius does not know this). Sir Lucius immediately declares that Acres must challenge "Beverley" to a duel and kill him. Acres goes along, and writes out a challenge note – despite his own rather more pacifist feelings, and the profound misgivings of his servant David. Sir Lucius leaves, Jack arrives, and Acres tells him of his intent. Jack agrees to deliver the note to "Beverley", but declines to be Acres' second.

Mrs. Malaprop again presents Jack to Lydia, but this time with Sir Anthony present, exposing Jack's pose as "Beverley". Lydia is enraged by the puncturing of her romantic dreams, and spurns Jack contemptuously.

Sir Lucius has also learned of the proposed marriage of Jack and Lydia, and determines to challenge Jack. He meets Jack, who, smarting from Lydia's rejection, agrees to fight him without even knowing the reason. They will meet at the same time as Acres is scheduled to fight "Beverley".

At the duelling ground, Acres is very reluctant to fight, but Sir Lucius will have no shirking. Jack and Faulkland arrive. Acres learns that "Beverley" is actually his friend Jack, and begs off from their duel. However, Jack is quite willing to fight Sir Lucius, and they cross swords.

David informs Mrs. Malaprop, Lydia, Julia, and Sir Anthony of the duel, and they all rush off to stop it. Sir Lucius explains the cause of his challenge, but Lydia denies any connection to him, and admits her love for Jack. Mrs. Malaprop announces thatsheis Delia, but Sir Lucius recoils in horror, realising that he has been hoaxed. Sir Anthony consoles Mrs. Malaprop, Julia is reconciled to Faulkland, and Acres invites everyone to a party.

Adaptations

Musical (1935)

A successful musical production - titledRivals!,with songs byHerbert Hughesand lyrics byJohn Robert Monsell- was staged byVladimir Rosingat London's Kingsway Theatre in October 1935. The musical ran for 86 performances.Queen Maryattended one of the performances.

Mavericktelevision adaptation (1958)

James GarnerasMaverick

Roger MooreinMaverick

The play was rewritten as a1958 episodeof the comedicWesterntelevision seriesMaverick,starring the remarkably similar-lookingJames GarnerandRoger Moore,and was the only episode of the series in which Garner and Moore appeared together (Moore did not portray "Beau Maverick,"Bret Maverick's cousin, until after Garner had left the series two seasons later). The Absolutes were renamed "Vandergelt" withNeil Hamiltonas the wealthy father.Patricia "Pat" Crowleyplays theleading lady,whose name is changed from the original play's "Lydia Languish" to "Lydia Lynley." The episode, telecast midway through the series' second season, was called "The Rivals" and the playwright Sheridan was given due credit.

Radio productions

In 1962, a radio production byR. D. Smithfor theBBC Third ProgrammefeaturedFay Comptonas Mrs Malaprop,Baliol Hollowayas Sir Anthony Absolute,Fenella Fieldingas Lydia Languish,Hugh Burdenas Captain Absolute andJohn Hollisas Thomas.It was repeated on 23 December 1963 on theHome Serviceas part of the "National Theatre of the Air" series.

In 1968, a radio production withFlora Robsonas Mrs Malaprop was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 as part of a "Flora Robson Festival".

Additional television productions

The play wasadapted for Australian television in 1961.

TheBBCproduced a version which was broadcast in 1970 as part of theirPlay of the Monthseries, starringJeremy Brettas Captain Jack Absolute. AnotherBBCproduction was broadcast in 1989 as part of theirTheatre Nightseries, starringDonald Sindenas Sir Anthony Absolute.

Jack Absolute novels (2003–2006)

The leading character of the play was taken to be the identity of the hero of a series of historic fictional adventure books by actor/novelistChris Humphreys.These take place in Cornwall, London, Quebec, the American colonies during both the Seven Years' War and the American Revolution, and Portugal.

Jack Absolute Flies Again

Main article:Jack Absolute Flies Again

A new adaptation written byRichard BeanandOliver ChristitledJack Absolute Flies Againwas due to premiere at theNational Theatre, Londonin April 2020, however due to theCOVID-19 pandemic,the production eventually opened on 15 July 2022. The play has been updated to July 1940 to coincide with the 80th anniversary of theBattle of Britain.

Biographical sources

• Richard Brinsley Sheridan,The Rivals(New Mermaids 1979, Elizabeth Duthie, Ed.).
• Linda Kelly,Richard Brinsley Sheridan, A Life(Sinclair-Stevenson1997).
• Brooke Allen,The Scholar of Scandal,a review ofFintan O’Toole, The Traitor's Kiss: The Life of Richard Brinsley Sheridan, 1751–1816(Farrar, Straus & Giroux 1998), at New Criterion.
• Richard Brinsley Sheridan(1751–1816) at Theatre History.

External links

• Full text ofThe RivalsatProject Gutenberg
• ​The Rivals​at theInternet Broadway Database
• The Rivalspublic domain audiobook atLibriVox