B) DRAMA
In 1920, the English theatre was in a deplorable condition. The rise of cinema, the strains of the war, the black-out, the death of some of the older dramatists, the diversion of many dramatists to the services in the battle-field were the factors that brought the dramatic activity of the time to a low ebb. Only short humours, colourful and musical plays were popular.
SOMERSET MAUGHAM was born in Paris and orphaned at a young age, which influenced his writing. He worked for the British Secret Service during WW1, which provided material for his espionage stories titled "The British Agent" . However, he's known for establishing the Somerset Maugham Award in 1947 to help young writers enrich their work by gaining experience in foreign countries.
His realistic plays are largely treatments of middle-class attitudes to love and money, in which the main female character asserts her independence in a choice of partner, as in 🔁"the constant wife"👰🏻♀️. They're characterized by a clear unadorned style, cosmopolitan settings, and serious social issues, showing a shrewd understanding of human nature, as observed in "The circle" ⭕
- Mr know all: Max believes he's always right and he's better than everybody else.
- Masterpiece: Of Human Bondage, a semi-autobiographical novel that explores themes of love, obsession, and personal growth
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Sir Noel Coward was an English playwright, actor, and composer known for his wit, flamboyance, and a "combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise". He's recognised for his highly polished comedies of manners that often poked fun at the upper classes through satire. His comedies have a sense of style and underlying pain which guarantee them a place in the tradition of the English comedy.
His plays are known for their social commentary and exploration of complex relationships through clever dialogue and fast-paced action
- Private lives (about a divorced couple who meet again on their honeymoons with new partners)
- Hay Fever (about a self-obsessed theatrical family)
- Design for Living: successful love triangle
- Blithe Spirit: in which an eccentric medium helps a first wife to return to torment her husband and his new life
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