In The Rivals, we meet the chatty Mrs. Malaprop, who has an alarming propensity for garbling the English language. She proudly tells us, "if I reprehend anything in this world, it is the use of my oracular tongue, and a nice derangement of epitaphs." We also meet her niece, Lydia, lost in the world of lurid half-bound romantic novels; Sir Anthony Absolute, often wrong but never in doubt; Sir Lucious O'Trigger, of BlunderBuss Hall (nothing more needs to be said about him) and the rest of the characters.
As the romantic intrigue unfolds, and, as secrets are exposed, this hilarious restoration comedy infuses social commentary that is exceedingly perceptive and satisfyingly naughty. But what truly stays with you is the humanity of each of these characters. They are not simply caricatures of restoration comedy, but are personalities we can all recognize and who engender our empathy as well as our laughter.
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