Page 239 - DENG403_BRITISH_DRAMA

Unit 18: Richard Sheridan: The School for Scandal—Introduction to the Author and the Text

18.2.3 Artificial in the Character’s Speech, Dress and Motivation Notes
But anti-semitism is not the only problem with modern staging. By current standards, the play
appears artificial in the characters’ speech, dress, and motivations. A comedy about manners is not
as interesting to twentieth century audiences because manners and the rules of society are far more
permissive and wide-ranging than they were in the 1700s. When School for Scandal was revived on
the London stage in 1990, the director stated that another problem with staging was the lack of any
one strong character to drive the play.
Perceptions regarding the nature of drama also play into contemporary perceptions of Sheridan’s
work. Peter Woods, who directed the 1990 revival, stated in an interview in Sheridan Studies that
“today’s audience supposes itself to be watching ART. Sheridan’s audience was looking at the
funnies.” Woods believed that audiences taking themselves and historical plays too seriously are
what prevent Sheridan’s comedy from being as successful today. Nevertheless, School for Scandal
remains a standard for comedies of manner and is considered Sheridan’s defining work.
Self Assessment

Multiple Choice Questions:
16. On the opening of The School for Scandal, the reviews heralded that it was
(a) real comedy (b) a comedy of manners
(c) a comedy of Restoration period (d) a comedy of scandal.
17. The comedy School for Scandal shows that
(a) the society progressed with the restoration period
(b) a dramatic change, in moral attitudes about marriage and love, has taken place
(c) there is a deviation of social order in the society
(d) it fully fall in line with the restoration values.
18. The most interesting switch that Sheridan depicted in The School for Scandal is
th
(a) how conservative England had become by late 18 century
(b) portraying love marriage
(c) not to create affairs between the characters of his play
(d) that bad are rewarded and the good are punished.
Fill in the blanks:
19. The School for Scandal shows that a dramatic change, in moral attitudes about ...... and ......,
has taken place.
20. Post-World War II audiences are understandably sensitive to the ...... made about
moneylenders.
21. Sheridan’s play “The School for Scandal” (1777) witnesses a decided swing away from most of
the contemporary plays. Much of this change is due to a falling away of the ...... .
22. By current standards, the play appears artificial in the ...... dress, and motivations.
23. The main goal of the Restoration comedies of manners is to mock ...... .
State whether the following statements are true or false:
24. Anti-Semitism is the significant problem that runs throughout the play.
25. Though there is a restoration of social order in these comedies, we can gain an insight into
historical events.

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