In 1774 he began writing his first play, The Rivals, which premiered on January 17, 1775, at Covent Garden Theatre. The play was not an instant success; audiences found parts of the comedy too coarse and the whole production too long. Undaunted, Sheridan revised it. A second performance— 11 nights later—fared far better, and the play enjoyed a successful run for the rest of the season. Embedded in its comedy is a satiric portrayal of high society, keenly executed by the 23- year-old Sheridan.
High society in Bath. Sheridan’s decision to have The Rivals take place in Bath, as opposed to London, which was a favorite setting of eighteenthcentury comedies, gives his play a unique atmosphere and appeal. “Bath had a strong hold on the imagination of the time as a place of pleasure and romance. Young people longed to go there because of the many opportunities Bath offered for meeting members of the opposite sex, for dancing, flirting and perhaps falling in love” (Macklin in Sheridan, p. xviii). Sheridan, having met his future bride in Bath, could testify to the truth of its attraction for the young.
This is a free page. This page contains 195 words. This
article contains 6,235 words (approx. 21 pages at 300
words per page).
Read the rest of this Article with our The Rivals Access Pass.
