Thomas Doyle’s School for Wives
Description
Thomas Doyle’s School for Wives
A script adapted for the stage by Steve Cleberg
Thomas Doyle’s School for Wives combines true events from 18th century England with the basic structure of Moliere’s classic comedy, School for Wives, to provide a comic play that connects the attitudes of the past with the issues facing society today. Thomas Doyle is a member of an intellectual circle in 18th century London, England that uses the tenets of Enlightenment philosophy to engage in free-thinking. The play’s central character takes this liberal approach to extremes when he devises a plan, based on Jean Jacques Rousseau social contract, to educate the perfect wife for himself. An unsettling comedy arises within the action of the play as his complicated plot begins to unravel. Conflicts between the sexes and the classes are examined in this challenging evening of theatre.