{"product_id":"book-i256","title":"Humour and Madness: Early Restoration Comedies","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA sparkling collection of nine witty full-cast comedies from the early Restoration era\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRaunchy, risqué and rebellious, early Restoration comedies were a breath of fresh air for 17th century theatregoers. With Charles II restored to the throne in 1660, Oliver Cromwell's ban on stage performances was rescinded, and for the first time, women were invited to tread the boards as actresses. Playwrights developed a new style of social comedy, packed with amorous escapades, bawdy humour, wicked wit and sexual innuendo.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis scintillating anthology showcases six leading lights of early Restoration drama, beginning with George Etherege, the creator of the 'comedy of manners': \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Man of Mode\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, an irreverent portrait of the fops and libertines that populated London's beau monde; and \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eShe Wou'd If She Cou'd\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, a racy, fast-paced romp mocking society's double standards for men and women. Among the casts are \u003cb\u003eDerek Jacobi, Anna Massey, Ian Richardson, Prunella Scales and Hattie Jacques.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlso poking fun at hypocrisy and immorality was William Wycherley. However, his comedies were considered far more daring - especially \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Country Wife\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, which was judged too obscene to be staged in its original form for over 200 years. Centred around a notorious rake who resorts to deception to pursue a naïve married woman, this effervescent BBC radio dramatisation stars \u003cb\u003eJonathan Pryce and Maggie Smith.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMale playwrights were not the only ones penning scandalous dramas during this period. Aphra Behn, Britain's first professional female writer, was a poet, spy and the most prolific playwright of the 1670s and '80s. Her sex comedy \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Rover\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, featured here, revolves around love, lust, intrigue and mistaken identity, and stars \u003cb\u003eJulia Ford, Suzan Sylvester and Juliet Aubrey.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEngland's first Poet Laureate, John Dryden, dominated Restoration literature to such an extent that it came to be known as the Age of Dryden. His 1677 play \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eAll For Love\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e, \u003c\/i\u003ea powerful reworking of Shakespeare's \u003ci\u003eAntony and Cleopatra\u003c\/i\u003e, is regarded as his finest work. \u003cb\u003eJohn Turner and Barbara Jefford\u003c\/b\u003e star in this heroic tragedy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA rival of Dryden, Edward Ravenscroft was the first British playwright to introduce characters from the 'commedia dell' arte' into his farces. His seminal comedy \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe London Cuckolds\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, featuring three ridiculous husbands, three beautiful wives, and one dissolute young cad, was hugely popular, and this BBC adaptation retains all the original's ribald wit. It stars \u003cb\u003eCarleton Hobbs, Norman Shelley and Madi Hedd.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThomas Otway achieved his greatest success in the last five years of his life. Three of his acclaimed works appear here: his 1683 comedy \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Soldier's Fortune\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e and its sequel \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Atheist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, focussing on disbanded army officers looking for sex and money, and his masterpiece \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eVenice Preserved\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, a dark political thriller about power, revolution, love and betrayal. The ensemble casts feature \u003cb\u003eDennis Quilley, John Rowe, Michael Turner and Donald Wolfit.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eContent list\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Man of Mode\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 27 Jun 1986\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eShe Wou'd If She Cou'd\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 6 Sep 1968\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Country Wife\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 22 Dec 1985\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Rover\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 22 Jan 1995\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eAll For Love\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 7 Jul 1983\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe London Cuckolds\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 30 Dec 1974\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Soldier's Fortune\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 24 May 1981\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Atheist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 31 May 1981\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eVenice Preserved\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Third Programme, 10 Aug 1960\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":49353343992112,"sku":"BDi256","price":16.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/460685-i256-Square.jpg?v=1734343641","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-i256","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}