Richard Brinsley Sheridan 
The Rivals 
A Comedy

‘The Rivals’ by Richard Brinsley Sheridan is a comedic play that navigates the complexities of love and mistaken identities in 18th century society. Set in Bath, the story follows the romantic entanglements of Lydia Languish, who desires a love affair akin to those in her beloved novels. Her aunt, Mrs. Malaprop, aims to arrange a match for her with the wealthy but socially awkward Captain Absolute. However, Lydia is enamored with the penniless Ensign Beverly, who is none other than Captain Absolute in disguise to win her affections genuinely. The play unfolds with hilarious miscommunications, witty wordplay, and absurd characters like the linguistically challenged Mrs. Malaprop. As the characters converge at Mrs. Malaprop’s estate, lies unravel, true identities are revealed, and love triumphs over societal pretensions. Through clever dialogue and satire, Sheridan explores the themes of love, pretension, and social manners, delivering a delightful comedy of errors.