The first act of The Cocktail Party is the only one divided into three separate scenes The first scene opens on a party in the drawing room of the Chamberlayne home in London with all of the play's major characters-Edward, Julia, Celia, Peter, Alex, and the Unidentified Guest-present. There is witty bantering about people not present, making this seem like many British drawing-room comedies. Lavinia Chamberlayne is missing, and her husband, Edward, a lawyer, makes up a feeble excuse for the absence of his wife, who has invited the guests. He tells them that she has gone to visit an aunt in the country, but most of the party guests are skeptical They all leave except for the Unidentified Guest, whom Edward asks to stay and talk with him.
Edward tells the stranger.....
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