Early in the spring of 1776 Richard Brinsley Sheridan succeeded David Garrick as the manager of Drury Lane Theatre. Within a little more than a year Sheridan had brought out the Rivals a comedy in fiv...

Tell me, ye prim adepts in Scandal’s school, Who rail by precept, and detract by rule, Lives there no character, so tried, so known, So deck’d with grace, and so unlike your own, That even you assist ...

As originally acted at Drury-Lane Theatre, May 8, 1777. Sir Peter Teazle⁠—Mr. King Sir Oliver Surface⁠—Mr. Yates Sir Harry Bumper⁠—Mr. Gawdry Sir Benjamin Backbite⁠—Mr. Dodd Joseph Surface⁠—Mr. Palmer...

A School for Scandal! tell me, I beseech you, Needs there a school this modish art to teach you? No need of lessons now, the knowing think; We might as well be taught to eat and drink. Caused by a dea...

Lady Sneerwell’s dressing-room Lady Sneerwell discovered at her dressing table; Snake drinking chocolate. Lady Sneerwell: The paragraphs, you say, Mr. Snake, were all inserted?1 Snake: They were, mada...

Lady Sneerwell’s dressing-room Lady Sneerwell discovered at her dressing table; Snake drinking chocolate. Lady Sneerwell: The paragraphs, you say, Mr. Snake, were all inserted?1 Snake: They were, mada...

A room in Sir Peter Teazle’s house. Sir Peter Teazle: Enter Sir Peter Teazle. Sir Peter: When an old bachelor marries a young wife, what is he to expect? ’T is now six months since Lady Teazle made me...

A room in Sir Peter Teazle’s house Sir Peter: Enter Sir Peter and Lady Teazle. Sir Peter: Lady Teazle, Lady Teazle, I’ll not bear it! Lady Teazle: Sir Peter, Sir Peter, you may bear it or not, as you ...

A room in Sir Peter Teazle’s house Sir Peter: Enter Sir Peter and Lady Teazle. Sir Peter: Lady Teazle, Lady Teazle, I’ll not bear it! Lady Teazle: Sir Peter, Sir Peter, you may bear it or not, as you ...

A room in Lady Sneerwell’s house. Lady Sneerwell: Lady Sneerwell, Mrs. Candour, Crabtree, Sir Benjamin Backbite, and Joseph Surface, discovered. Lady Sneerwell: Nay, positively, we will hear it. Josep...

A room in Sir Peter Teazle’s house. Sir Oliver Surface: Enter Sir Oliver Surface and Rowley. Sir Oliver: Ha! ha! ha! so my old friend is married, hey?⁠—a young wife out of the country. Ha! ha! ha! tha...

A room in Sir Peter Teazle’s house. Sir Peter Teazle: Enter Sir Peter Teazle, Sir Oliver Surface, and Rowley. Sir Peter: Well, then we will see this fellow first, and have our wine afterwards.⁠—⁠But h...

A room in Sir Peter Teazle’s house. Sir Peter Teazle: Enter Sir Peter Teazle, Sir Oliver Surface, and Rowley. Sir Peter: Well, then we will see this fellow first, and have our wine afterwards.⁠—⁠But h...

A room in Charles Surface’s house. Trip: Enter Trip, Moses, and Sir Oliver Surface. Trip: Here, Master Moses! if you’ll stay a moment, I’ll try whether⁠—what’s the gentleman’s name? Sir Oliver: Mr. Mo...

Another room in the same. Charles Surface: Charles Surface, Sir Harry Bumper, Careless, and Gentlemen, discovered drinking. Charles Surface: ’Fore heaven, ’tis true!⁠—there’s the great degeneracy of t...

A picture room in Charles Surface’s house Charles Surface: Enter Charles Surface, Sir Oliver Surface, Moses, and Careless. Charles Surface: Walk in, gentlemen, pray walk in;⁠—here they are, the family...

A picture room in Charles Surface’s house Charles Surface: Enter Charles Surface, Sir Oliver Surface, Moses, and Careless. Charles Surface: Walk in, gentlemen, pray walk in;⁠—here they are, the family...

Another room in the same. Sir Oliver Surface: Enter Sir Oliver Surface and Moses. Moses: Well, sir, I think, as Sir Peter said, you have seen Mr. Charles in high glory; ’tis great pity he’s so extrava...

A library in Joseph Surface’s house. Joseph Surface: Enter Joseph Surface and Servant. Joseph Surface: No letter from Lady Teazle? Servant: No, sir. Joseph Surface: Aside. I am surprised she has not s...

The library in Joseph Surface’s house. Joseph Surface: Enter Joseph Surface and Servant. Joseph Surface: Mr. Stanley! and why should you think I would see him? you must know he comes to ask something....

The library in Joseph Surface’s house. Joseph Surface: Enter Joseph Surface and Servant. Joseph Surface: Mr. Stanley! and why should you think I would see him? you must know he comes to ask something....

A room in Sir Peter Teazle’s house. Mrs. Candour: Enter Mrs. Candour and Maid. Maid: Indeed, ma’am, my lady will see nobody at present. Mrs. Candour: Did you tell her it was her friend, Mrs. Candour? ...

The library in Joseph Surface’s house. Joseph Surface: Enter Joseph Surface and Lady Sneerwell. Lady Sneerwell: Impossible! Will not Sir Peter immediately be reconciled to Charles, and of course no lo...

I, who was late so volatile and gay, Like a trade-wind must now blow all one way, Bend all my cares, my studies, and my vows, To one dull rusty weathercock⁠—my spouse! So wills our virtuous bard⁠—the ...

In the original draft of this scene, now in the possession of the Sheridans of Frampton Court, Dorchester, the person with whom Lady Sneerwell is conversing is a Miss Verjuice, and it is only later in...