Subject
Triangles (Interpersonal relations) -- Drama Books
Best books
Bernard Shaw
How He Lied to Her Husband
"How He Lied to Her Husband" by Bernard Shaw is a one-act comedy play written in 1904. Created in just four days as a response to the success of his earlier work "Candida," this satirical farce follows a tangled situation involving a poet, his muse, and her husband. When compromising love poems go missing, panic ensues—but the confrontation takes an unexpected turn that subverts romantic assumptions. Shaw transforms a hackneyed theatrical framework into sharp commentary on marriage, vanity, and melodramatic conventions.
Leonid Andreyev
He Who Gets Slapped: A Play in Four Acts
"He Who Gets Slapped: A Play in Four Acts" by Leonid Andreyev is a play written in the early 20th century. The narrative revolves around the character known as "He," who has chosen to assume a clown's life in a circus after experiencing deep personal sorrow and disillusionment. The play delves into themes of identity, societal ridicule, and existential angst, revealing the dichotomy between outward appearances and inner turmoil. The opening of the play introduces us to the circus setting, populated by various characters including the clowns Tilly and Polly, the manager Briquet, and Count Mancini, Consuelo's father. As a rehearsal for the evening performance unfolds, we witness the interactions that highlight the tensions and aspirations of the characters, particularly Mancini's manipulative nature towards Consuelo, the Bareback Tango Queen. Meanwhile, "He," the new clown, exhibits a blend of humor and sadness, struggling with his identity after losing his previous life. This initial act sets the stage for an exploration of the complexities of love, ambition, and the sometimes harsh realities of existence within the circus environment.
William Shakespeare
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
"The Two Gentlemen of Verona" by William Shakespeare is a comedy believed to have been written between 1589 and 1593. Two best friends from Verona travel to Milan, where romantic entanglements test their loyalty. When both men fall in love with the same woman, friendship collides with desire, leading to betrayal and deception. Meanwhile, a forsaken lover disguises herself as a boy to follow her unfaithful beloved. This early Shakespearean work explores the conflict between friendship and love, featuring memorable characters including a clownish servant and his scene-stealing dog.
William Shakespeare
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
"The Two Gentlemen of Verona" by William Shakespeare is a comedic play written during the late 16th century. The story revolves around the themes of love, friendship, and betrayal, focusing on two young men, Valentine and Protheus, and their romantic pursuits. As one seeks honor and success, the other finds himself torn between love for his long-time girlfriend, Julia, and the beauty of another, Silvia. The opening of the play introduces Valentine and Protheus as they discuss their divergent attitudes towards love and travel. Valentine expresses a desire to explore the world while Protheus, besotted with Julia, is reluctant to leave his home. Their camaraderie is displayed through witty dialogue. Subsequently, Protheus is revealed to be in love with Julia, while Valentine plans to travel to Milan, igniting a series of events that will test their friendship. The interactions set the stage for the conflicts of loyalty and treachery that arise as both men grapple with their emotions and the consequences of their choices.
William Shakespeare
Two Gentlemen of Verona The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.]
"Two Gentlemen of Verona" by William Shakespeare is a play written in the late 16th century. The work centers around themes of love, friendship, and betrayal as it follows two companions, Valentine and Proteus, who experience complicated romantic entanglements with two women, Silvia and Julia. The play delves into the nature of love and loyalty, exploring how easily they can be tested. The opening of the play introduces the friendship between Valentine and Proteus, set in Verona, as Valentine prepares to leave for Milan. They engage in witty banter about love, with Proteus expressing a deep passion for Julia, while Valentine speaks of the joys and sorrows of love. Meanwhile, Julia, who is in love with Proteus, contemplates her feelings and the societal constraints that affect her choices. The stage is set for a complex exploration of love's challenges, foreshadowed by Proteus’s impending journey, which will lead to significant conflicts and revelations as the story unfolds.
William Shakespeare
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
"The Two Gentlemen of Verona" by William Shakespeare is a comedy believed to have been written between 1589 and 1593. Two best friends from Verona travel to Milan, where their bond faces its greatest test. When both fall for the same woman, one betrays the other through deception and broken vows. The play explores friendship versus love, infidelity, and the foolish behavior of people in love. Featuring a heroine in disguise and Shakespeare's most scene-stealing dog, this early work introduces themes the playwright would revisit throughout his career.
William Shakespeare
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
"Two Gentlemen of Verona" by William Shakespeare is a comedy likely written in the late 16th century. It centers on themes of friendship, love, and betrayal, primarily focusing on two young men, Valentine and Proteus, and their complicated relationships with their loves, Silvia and Julia. The play explores the dynamics of loyalty and romance amidst the trials and adventures faced by the characters. At the start of the play, we are introduced to Valentine and Proteus, two close friends who are about to embark on different paths. Valentine is set to travel to Milan, hoping to find fortune and success, while Proteus is hesitant about leaving the comforts of home, being deeply in love with Julia. Their banter reveals their contrasting perspectives on love and adventure. Meanwhile, Julia exhibits her own affection for Proteus but keeps it hidden from him initially. The opening scenes efficiently set the stage for the ensuing drama, highlighting the interplay of love, ambition, and the bonds of friendship that will unfold throughout the narrative.
W. Somerset (William Somerset) Maugham
Mrs. Dot: A Farce
"Mrs. Dot: A Farce" by W. Somerset Maugham is a comedy play written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around Mrs. Worthley, affectionately known as Mrs. Dot, who is entangled in a web of romantic and financial struggles involving herself, the handsome Gerald Halstane, and the complications of love amidst societal expectations. With themes of class distinction and the intricacies of personal relationships, the play examines the humorous yet poignant realities of love and ambition. At the start of "Mrs. Dot," we are introduced to the charismatic and somewhat broke Gerald Halstane, whose financial woes are revealed through his interactions with his servant, Charles, and his solicitor, Mr. Rixon. Gerald learns he has unexpectedly inherited wealth and a title, which complicates his feelings for Mrs. Dot, a lively brewery owner with whom he shares a close relationship. The initial act sets the stage for conflict, romance, and comedy as Gerald navigates his existing engagement to Nellie Sellenger and the newfound attraction he feels for Mrs. Dot, leading to humorous exchanges and the inevitable complications of their intertwined lives.
Ferenc Molnár
Játék a kastélyban : $b Anekdota három felvonásban
"Játék a kastélyban: Anekdota három felvonásban" by Ferenc Molnár is a play likely written in the early 20th century. This theatrical work unfolds in an elegant seaside castle on the Italian coast and centers around characters who are intertwined in the workings of love, ambition, and drama, revolving around the young composer Ádám and his complicated relationship with the primadonna Annie, as well as the seasoned playwrights Turai and Gál who find themselves caught in the web of secrets and aspirations. The opening portion introduces us to a stylish guest room filled with conversation among three men dressed in tuxedos—Turai, Gál, and Ádám—as they discuss the intricacies of starting a play and the challenges of introducing characters to an audience. Their contemplation is interrupted by references to Annie, who appears to hold significant influence over them, especially over the young composer who admits to being in love with her. As the conversation develops, it becomes evident that there are underlying complexities involving jealousy, creativity, and the night’s hidden surprises that simmer just beneath the surface, setting the stage for the unfolding drama and the ensuing interactions with Almády, Annie’s past lover, and the potential consequences of their entangled relationships.
Ferenc Molnár
The play's the thing
"The play's the thing" by Ferenc Molnár and P. G. Wodehouse is a comedic play adapted in 1926. When young composer Albert overhears his fiancée Ilona in a compromising late-night conversation with another actor, their engagement hangs in the balance. Enter his uncle Sandor Turai, a veteran playwright with a theatrical solution: he frantically writes an entire play overnight, transforming the overheard dialogue into scripted lines. Can this elaborate deception convince Albert that nothing happened, or will the charade unravel?
William Shakespeare
Kaksi nuorta veronalaista
"Kaksi nuorta veronalaista" by William Shakespeare is a comedy believed to have been written between 1589 and 1593. Two best friends from Verona journey to Milan, where love and betrayal test their bond. When both men fall for the same woman, one friend's treachery leads to banishment, disguise, and flight into an outlaw-filled forest. Featuring Shakespeare's first cross-dressing heroine and the scene-stealing dog Crab, this early play explores friendship, infidelity, and the foolishness of lovers navigating conflicting loyalties.
William Shakespeare
Les Deux Gentilshommes de Vérone
"Les Deux Gentilshommes de Vérone" by William Shakespeare is a comedy believed to have been written between 1589 and 1593. Two best friends from Verona journey to Milan, where love threatens their bond. When Proteus betrays both his beloved Julia and his friend Valentine by pursuing the same woman, loyalties shatter and deceptions multiply. Julia disguises herself as a boy to follow her unfaithful lover, while Valentine leads a band of outlaws in the forest. Shakespeare explores friendship versus love, infidelity, and the foolish behavior of people in romance.
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