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86th out of 228 books
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124 voters
The Country Wife
'Cuckolds like lovers should themselves deceive'
So concludes one of Wycherley's most revived and much discussed plays. It is a satirical comedy sharply focussed on the follies, vices and hypocrisies of Restoration London through its central characters: the desperate Pinchwife; his naive wife; the sex-obsessed Horner and Lady Fidget's 'virtuous gang' of town ladies.
Wycherle...more
So concludes one of Wycherley's most revived and much discussed plays. It is a satirical comedy sharply focussed on the follies, vices and hypocrisies of Restoration London through its central characters: the desperate Pinchwife; his naive wife; the sex-obsessed Horner and Lady Fidget's 'virtuous gang' of town ladies.
Wycherle...more
Paperback, New Mermaids, 208 pages
Published
March 28th 1991
by A & C Black Publishers Ltd.
(first published 1675)
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This was one of the last plays I had to read for my Introduction to Drama module. I've still got one or two coming up, but I thought I'd review this one before I started reading those.
One of the first things that needs to be said about this play is that it is a Restoration comedy. The Restoration period is known for its freer, anti-Puritan approach. The monarchy had just been restored and was more flamboyant than it had ever been. Most plays written at the time were comedies of a, perhaps, quest...more
One of the first things that needs to be said about this play is that it is a Restoration comedy. The Restoration period is known for its freer, anti-Puritan approach. The monarchy had just been restored and was more flamboyant than it had ever been. Most plays written at the time were comedies of a, perhaps, quest...more
I want to believe that there is a deeply resonant and cultural importance to Wycherly's The Country Wife - but I don't think so. I have the sneaky suspicion that the aristocratic values on display might just be indicative of the Charles II reign. The other inkling I have with regards to the play was to wonder if it was produced early in the return of the theatre in England. I think the theatres were closed in 1642 and not opened again until over a decade later. I'm wondering how early in that re...more
I had the opportunity to play the role of Dorilant in a staged reading of this play last night (February 17, 2013). Savage Rose staged readings are just a bunch of actors going on a stage and reading a little-known classical play without worrying about attendance ad production cost. We throw in some rough blocking that we create as we go and have a good time. Very few of us had read the play before, so that led to many fun antics as we tried to figure out what the hell we were doing.
The method...more
The method...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Absolutely hilarious! The premise is that a known lecher gets a quack doctor to spread a rumor he's become a eunuch, and thereby he can cuckold all his friends, since it won't be suspicious for honorable ladies to frequent his home. It plays out delightfully, as the hero mixes with an array of silly characters, including his fellow bachelors, gullible husbands, a stupid mistress (the titular country wife), and her jealous husband. Of note additionally is the refreshing acknowledgement of the fem...more
I read this play as part of a group reading challenge. It is the first play I have read since the mandatory reading you are given in High School. I don't enjoy the format of a play, because i mist out on the narrative/descriptive aspect of traditional novels. I found reading the play very flat, so I watched a version of the play on You tube afterwards to get a better context of the meaning of the play. although it was not my cup of tea, it is much more enjoyable when brought to life.
I did some...more
I did some...more
http://kitabisevda.blogspot.com/2012/...
1675'te yazılan bir oyun desem? Biraz fazla aykırı ve biraz da komik. Fazla değil ama.
Kitapta taşradan bir kadınla evlenen Pinchwife'ın saf karısını şehrin pisliğinden koruma çabalarını okuyoruz denilebilir. Bu pislikte aslında hemcinsleri. Şehrin her yanını Horner gibi playboylar sarmış ve hepsinin karısının peşinde olduğunu düşünüyor.
Dönemine göre aykırı bir oyun, hatta bırakın o zamanı şimdi bile bir eşin kocasını aldatsa neler olduğunu düşünün.
Oyun Ho...more
1675'te yazılan bir oyun desem? Biraz fazla aykırı ve biraz da komik. Fazla değil ama.
Kitapta taşradan bir kadınla evlenen Pinchwife'ın saf karısını şehrin pisliğinden koruma çabalarını okuyoruz denilebilir. Bu pislikte aslında hemcinsleri. Şehrin her yanını Horner gibi playboylar sarmış ve hepsinin karısının peşinde olduğunu düşünüyor.
Dönemine göre aykırı bir oyun, hatta bırakın o zamanı şimdi bile bir eşin kocasını aldatsa neler olduğunu düşünün.
Oyun Ho...more
Wycherley has certainly used tremendous wit in each line that his characters speak. Beside this, the dialogues have been very carefully arranged to weave a very interesting, witty, entertaining and as it were, a smart plot. I personally liked the Alithea-Harcourt plot line the most. The change in the feelings of both these characters was, for me, channelised in the right direction where this change was symbolic of valorising not just true love but also justice, reason and the courage to be able...more
This was really a poor choice for in-car listening, as I couldn't give it the attention it needed. It took me to almost halfway through to get the characters satisfactorily sorted out in my head, so there were parts of the plot from the earlier section of the play that I missed because I didn't have all the characters worked out. By the time I got to latter third of the play I had it pretty well sussed, and could appreciate the nuances much better. I dare say what I should do is listen to the st...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
What's not to enjoy about constant sexual innuendo? I particularly love the Mr. and Mrs. Pinchwife plot. He's so concerned that she will cheat on him that in trying to keep her from doing so he unwittingly encourages her to do so. I know some 21st century men who could learn a lesson from this play!
This play was silly, humorous, and over-the-top. I had to read this for my British Literature before 1800 class and, now, I'm glad we did. Horner's trick was hilarious and just shows the gullibility/ignorance of the society. Wycherley may not have written much, but The Country Wife is definitely a brilliant play.
I thought it was funny. This was one of the books required by my professor. I also had a girl sit next to me in class that opened my eyes to it a little more. Without these people I probably would have read it without really absorbing the concept.
Honestly, if I hadn't read this play because of a (retake, ugh) of an English class, then I can say with little doubt that I would never have gone near it. Plays aren't really my bag, even less so with farcical romances. All that prefacing aside though, having read this play for the second time I can say that I did find parts of it that were enjoyable, witty, and at times entertaining. Good if you're into it, but I suspect it won't convert any nonbelievers.
Again an 18th century commentary on men not being able to fulfill their wives needs and the innocence of the country versus the city wife. Interesting humor and very clever. However, flawed in some areas.
I am playing the country wife of the title, Margery Pinchwife, in an upcoming reading.
The reading took 3.5 hours, so the audience was stalwart in it's patience. So many funny lines (a favorite being "Be sure you love me whatsoever my husband says to the contrary, and let him not see this, lest he should come home, and pinch me, or kill my squirrel.")I'd love to work on this show again.
The reading took 3.5 hours, so the audience was stalwart in it's patience. So many funny lines (a favorite being "Be sure you love me whatsoever my husband says to the contrary, and let him not see this, lest he should come home, and pinch me, or kill my squirrel.")I'd love to work on this show again.
It was a short book and easy to read, though at times the plot - who was cheating on who and why - was slightly confusing, which was odd because there seemed to only be this as a main plot.
I had never actually sat down and read a Restoration Drama, thought I knew what to expect from the period and genre. I enjoyed the read, but I'm sure I would prefer it on stage.
Feb 27, 2009
Suzanne
added it
i really hated this the first time i read it, but after going to college i tried it one more time, and well, i laughed really hard and it just is so true...
(7/10) This play really hammers home one point: in Restoration England, much like high school, all everyone could think about was who was cheating on who.
One of my absolute favorites. Such an amazing story. So creatively woven together. The characters are the best. It gave me belly laughs the entire read!
Oh my! How wickedly delightful this play was. Every other sentence was a double entendre. Naughty, fun, and not something you would think to see in a 17th century play. Great, quick read.
A silly, effective romp about the dangers of jealousy both in its excess and its deficiency, with many humorous jabs at over-confident wits.
Oct 14, 2010
Rose
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Rose by:
My English Teacher
Wasn't my favorite but it's pretty decent. I would much rather watch the play than read it. It's very witty and funny and would be more enjoyable being watched.
This was a funny and entertaining play. Like most English lit. from 1500-1850, it is about cuckolding.
Loved this play! Wycherly was ahead of his time with his sexual inuendo's and wit that is even funny today.
Ask me how many papers I've written about this, haha. One of the funniest and fun-est reads!
Fairly entertaining, especially if you enjoy an abundance of sexual innuendo. Even in the title.
Great satire from the Restoration Period. Shows the roles of the aristocracy in society. Very funny to read and very witty.
Fine student edition of a great play of manners and humors.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| 18th Century Enth...: The Country Wife by William Wycherly | 1 | 1 | Oct 19, 2012 05:18am |
William Wycherley was an English dramatist of the Restoration period, best known for the plays The Country Wife and The Plain Dealer.
Wycherley left Oxford University and took up residence at the Inner Temple, but gave little attention to the study of law. Pleasure and the stage were his only interests. His play, Love in a Wood, was produced early in 1671 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. It was pu...more
More about William Wycherley...
Wycherley left Oxford University and took up residence at the Inner Temple, but gave little attention to the study of law. Pleasure and the stage were his only interests. His play, Love in a Wood, was produced early in 1671 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. It was pu...more
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“Marrying to increase love is like gaming to become rich; alas, you only lose what little stock you had before”
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