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.
He wrote realistic plays characterized by a clear unadorned style, cosmopolitan settings, and serious social issues, showing a shrewd understanding of human nature. His 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.
- "The circle"
- "the constant wife"
- Mr know all: Max believes he's always right and he's better than everybody else.
His writing is celebrated for its lucidity and ability to capture the complexities of human nature
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Sir Noel Coward was an English playwright, actor, and composer best known 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
- 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
These plays are known for their social commentary and exploration of complex relationships through clever, witty dialogue and fast-paced action
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