Arguably the most perfectly poised of Restoration wit comedies, The Man
of Mode is a finished exercise in dramatic sprezzatura, or nonchalance,
matching the beguiling 'easiness' and 'complaisance' of its central
character. The play's imaginative brilliance depends upon its author's
ability to hint at the dark abyss of passion and emotional violence at
whose edge the modish denizens of the town perform their graceful
ballet. Its seemingly casual construction and wanton breaches of comic
decorum mask a ferocious artistic control designed to upset the
complacency of the audience's moral, social and aesthetic assumptions by
luring them into sympathy for a character whose dangerous 'wildness'
they ought to deplore. It is at once among the funniest and the most
unsettling of comedies in English.
The full, modernized play text is accompanied by incisive commentary
notes, while its engaging introduction unpacks the complexity of the
Restoration's political and theatrical context, analyses the play's
performance history (including Nicholas Hytner's 2007 modern-dress
version) and demonstrates Etherege's linguistic finesse. This edition is
supplemented by a plot summary and an annotated bibliography.
The New Mermaids plays offer:
- Modernized versions of the play text edited to the highest textual
standards
- Fully annotated student editions with obscure words explained and
critical, contextual and staging insight provided on each page
- Full Introductions analyzing context, themes, author background and
stage history
