{"product_id":"book-i255","title":"Intrigue and Satire: Later Restoration Comedies","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA dazzling collection of comedies from the later Restoration period\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEngland's 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688 and the reign of new monarchs William and Mary signified a turning point for Restoration comedy with laws being passed to restrict playwrights' freedoms. The latter years are marked by a shift towards more moral storylines, mixing humour with social and political issues, alongside the lighthearted 'comedy of manners'.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe works in this collection bring together these complementary styles, full of humour while also focusing on hard hitting themes. We open with a 1688 piece by Aphra Behn, England's first professional female writer. \u003ci\u003eOroonoko\u003c\/i\u003e is a powerful critique of the slave trade centring around a betrayed African prince. Adapted for BBC Radio, it stars \u003cb\u003eLeo Wringer\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA pre-eminent Restoration dramatist, William Congreve was renowned for his witty dialogue and brilliant characterisation, exemplified in the plays \u003ci\u003eThe Old Bachelor, The Double-Dealer\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eLove for Love\u003c\/i\u003e. As heard on BBC Radio, these sparkling satirical portraits of romance, deception and the battle of the sexes star \u003cb\u003eJames Dale, Nicholas Parsons, Michael Spice and Maxine Audley.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn her 1696 tragedy \u003ci\u003eThe Royal Mischief\u003c\/i\u003e playwright and pamphleteer Delarivier Manley tackled gender politics rather than party politics. This BBC Radio adaptation stars \u003cb\u003eSian Thomas\u003c\/b\u003e as the transgressive princess Homais, whose unrestrained sexual desire represents a threat to both the monarchy and the patriarchy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA loveless marriage is under the spotlight in \u003ci\u003eThe Provok'd Wife\u003c\/i\u003e, John Vanburgh's outspoken 1697 comedy of sex, debauchery and revenge that is Restoration comedy at its finest. \u003cb\u003eSaskia Reeves\u003c\/b\u003e stars as Lady Brute, with \u003cb\u003eJulian Rhind-Tutt\u003c\/b\u003e as confirmed bachelor Heartfree.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIrish playwright George Farquhar stormed the London stage with his 1699 comedy \u003ci\u003eThe Constant Couple\u003c\/i\u003e, featuring a wealthy heiress seeking revenge, and the three rivals vying for her hand. Its popularity was mainly due to its rakish hero, Sir Harry Wildair, played in this BBC dramatisation by \u003cb\u003eAlec Clunes\u003c\/b\u003e. It is followed by William Congreve's \u003ci\u003eThe Way of the World\u003c\/i\u003e, a comic masterpiece that exposes the grasping falsity of fashionable London society. \u003cb\u003eSheila Hancock\u003c\/b\u003e stars, with \u003cb\u003eAlex Jennings, Robert Glenister, Frances Barber and Indira Varma.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSusanna Centilivre's 1705 comedy \u003ci\u003eThe Basset Table\u003c\/i\u003e explores several hot topics of the time: the rise of science, gambling and female education. Featuring two strong, independent heroines determined to dodge unwanted marriages, this delightfully exuberant comedy stars \u003cb\u003eEleanor Bron and Danielle Allan.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eConcluding this collection are George Farquhar's two most popular plays. \u003ci\u003eThe Recruiting Officer\u003c\/i\u003e, starring \u003cb\u003ePaul Higgins and Lisa Dillon\u003c\/b\u003e, is set in Shrewsbury during the War of the Spanish Succession, where wives are recruited while soldiers are wooed. Meanwhile, in \u003ci\u003eThe Beaux' Stratagem\u003c\/i\u003e, starring \u003cb\u003eSimon Treves and Dale Rapley\u003c\/b\u003e, two rakes arrive in Lichfield from London in search of fortune...\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eContent list\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eOroonoko\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 24 August 1990\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Old Bachelor\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 3 Jun 1966\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Double-Dealer\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 17 Jan 1969\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLove for Love\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 18 Feb 1965\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Royal Mischief\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 28 Oct 1990\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Provok'd Wife\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 12 Dec 2004\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Constant Couple\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Network Three, 9 Jun 1967\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Way of the World\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 27 Apr 2003\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Basset Table\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 10 Aug 1990\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Recruiting Officer\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 18 Dec 2011\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Beaux' Stratagem\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 19 Feb 1990\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin UK","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49353343861040,"sku":"BDi255","price":16.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/i255-Square-cover.jpg?v=1770782683","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-i255","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}