The Comical Revenge; or, Love in a Tub

play by Etherege

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The Comical Revenge; or, Love in a Tub is a play by Sir George Etherege, first performed in 1664. It is considered an early example of the Restoration comedy of manners. The play was successful and helped Etherege gain entry into fashionable society. While it incorporated elements of earlier dramatic traditions, such as a romantic plot in verse and a farcical subplot, its novelty lay in its exploitation of contemporary manners, particularly in the character of Sir Frederick Frollick. This play marked a significant step in the development of realistic comedy in 17th-century England, focusing on the satire of social behavior.12

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Sir George Etherege
Etherege’s first comedy, The Comical Revenge; or, Love in a Tub, was premiered at Lincoln’s Inn Fields Theatre in 1664. An immediate success, it was novel in its exploitation of contemporary manners, especially in the intrigue of the stylish Sir Frederick Frollick. It still followed earlier tradition, with…
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Etherege’s first comedy, The Comical Revenge; or, Love in a Tub, was premiered at Lincoln’s Inn Fields Theatre in 1664. An immediate success, it was novel in its exploitation of contemporary manners, especially in the intrigue of the stylish Sir Frederick Frollick. It still followed earlier tradition, with…
Read More