Schoolmistress

Schoolmistress is a farce by Arthur Wing Pinero, first performed in 1895. The play follows Caroline Dyott, the principal of Volumnia College, who is secretly deceiving the parents of her students while maintaining a facade of rigid austerity. The three acts, subtitled The Mystery, The Party, and The Nightmare, explore themes of deception and societal expectations. Pinero's work is notable for its comedic critique of Victorian norms and has been well-received, following the success of his earlier play, The Magistrate.