School For Scandal

The greatest comedy of manners in English theatre, Sheridan's 1777 masterpiece dissects the British upper class with surgical precision. Lady Sneerwell, a scandal-monger with a fortune to protect, schemes to separate Maria, a wealthy heiress, from the man she loves, Charles Surface. Her weapon: poisonous gossip spread through her paid informant, Snake. When Lady Teazle, the young wife of the aging Sir Peter, becomes the target of rumors about an affair with Charles, the web of lies threatens to destroy everything. Meanwhile, Sir Oliver Surface, returned from the East Indies with a fortune, dons disguises to test which of his nephews deserves it. The result is a dazzling display of verbal sparring, mistaken identities, and the brutal truth that behind every polished smile in high society lies a viper. The play endures because it strips away the mask of civilization to reveal the savage calculations beneath. Anyone who has ever been destroyed by a rumor, or enjoyed watching the powerful brought low, will find this comedy irresistible.