Richard Sheridan’s The School for Scandal is a play written in five acts, as well as a prologue and an epilogue, along with a dedicatory poem that is often published with the main text. The majority of the play is written in prose dialogue, while the Prologue and the Epilogue (written by Davig Garrick and George Colman the Elder, respectively) are written in poetic verse. The characters of the play speak in accordance with their personalities—Joseph and Lady Sneerwell speak in roundabout and deceptive yet flowery, pretty language, while Charles and Sir Oliver are much more plainspoken and down to earth. Likewise, the gossipmongers speak mostly in short, witty quips or long, overly-detailed and winding narratives in order to boost their sense of self-importance, while Maria only ever says exactly as much as is necessary, in keeping with propriety.
Sheridan builds lively scenes by making use of the stage to create multiple moments of dramatic irony; characters hide, wear disguises, and use all manner of concealment to achieve their ends— all while the audience can see what is happening the whole time. The School for Scandal is therefore a lively and engaging production that simultaneously amuses the audience and inspires deeper conversation on the nature of its themes and characters.
