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● With the return of King Charles II from his exile in France, England saw the revival of the

theatre, so long suppressed by the puritans, but with a difference-women were allowed
on stage. This is due, in part, to the king’s affair with a young actress named Nell
Gwynn.
● The Comedy of Manners
○ The return of the exiled nobility also brought with it a new form of drama-the
Comedy of Manners
○ This style of comedy involves no clever servants, but crafty young noblemen who
are after the fortunes and virtue of the young ladies.
○ This type of play depends not on slapstick and stock characters, but rather, the
cleverness of the language used.
● Aphra Behn 1640-1689
○ The first professional female playwright and occasional spy for the king, Aphra
Behn, wrote primarily comedies like Sir Patient Fancy and her most famous work,
The Rover. Nell Gwynn starred in most of her plays.
● Susanna Centlivre 1667-1723
○ With her husband killed in a duel, Centlivre took to writing for the stage to avoid
poverty. She wrote a number of acclaimed farces including The Gamester, The
Busy-body and A Wonder; a Woman Keeps a Secret, sometimes appearing on
stage in her own plays.
● John Dryden 1631-1700
○ One of the most successful playwrights of the restoration, John Dryden was
known for his heroic tragedies such as Tyrannic Love, King Arthur and Don
Sebastian as well as for his “adaptations’ of Shakespeare’s works complete with
happy endings for the tragedies.
● William Wycherly 1640-1716
○ A sea captain fighting the Dutch for the length of a week, Wycherley turned to
dramaturgy to make a living. He was incredibly successful in writing some of the
raunchiest, bawdy, immoral plays ever to see the stage. The Plain Dealer and
The Country Wife are still performed today.
● George Etherege 1634-1691
○ Love in a Tub, She Would if She Could and The Man of Mode or Sir Flopling
Flutter all cemented Etherege’s place among the comedic writers of the age.
● William Congreve 1670-1729
○ Born too late to be appreciated for his loose characters and high wit as was
Wycherly, Congreve still gained success with his plays such as The Double-
Dealer, Love for Love and The Way of the World.
● Thomas Killagrew and William Davenant
○ Together Killigrew and Davenant took out the first patent for a theatre after the
Restoration, building the Royal Theatre on Drury Lane.
○ Running separate acting companies, both were successful managers and
playwrights in their own right.
● Elizabeth Barry and Ann Bracegirdle
● Thomas Betterton
○ Despite his short stature and plump form, Betterton moved audiences to tears
with every performance
● David Garrick 1717-1779

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