The School for Scandal, written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, was first performed in London at Drury Lane Theatre, on May 8, 1777.    Sheridan was a renown Irish satirist, playwright and poet.  He is buried at Poet’s Corner in Westminster Abbey along with others who are recognized for their contribution to the British arts and culture.   Sheridan’s plays are still performed around the world today and are widely recognized as remaining significant in the canon of British playwrights.

Act I:

Today’s focus is on Act I, Scene I.  This scene acts to introduce the characters involved in this tale as well as discussing the multiple scandal spreading  plots being spread by the young widow, Lady Sneerwell.  I have always loved the names given in these old plays.  They seem at times to tell precisely what to expect but in an amusing way.   Lady Sneerwell; her servant Snake; Sir Benjamin Backbite all seem appropriate for a tale centering on the world of gossip and scandal, especially when told with such expressive irony.

Act I can be read in its entirety:

http://www.bartleby.com/18/2/11.html

Or, you can listen to it with the rest of the play at:

Oh,… and confidentially… I have heard that in most countries you can access  this on youtube in a video version or two… ssshhhh.. don’t tell anyone I said so…..