Plays

In a polished London world of bridge parties, drawing rooms, and studio clutter, private feeling erupts beneath the surface of social grace. George Dedmond returns to find his wife Clare absent and their marriage already strained by resentment, suspicion, and the pressure of appearances. As Sir Charles, Lady Dedmond, and Captain Huntingdon probe the situation, Clare's cool defiance makes clear that this is no ordinary domestic disagreement but a union nearing collapse, shadowed by her connection to the sharp-witted writer Malise. Clare's confessions to Malise and later to Reggie Huntingdon reveal a woman trapped in a loveless marriage and desperate for freedom, even at the cost of scandal. Her bitter confrontation with George lays bare the emptiness at the heart of their life together. Meanwhile, the story broadens into a livelier artistic household where Malise's cluttered room, the enigmatic Ferrand, the comic cabman Timson, and the spirited Mrs. Megan create a world of flirtation, gossip, and emotional mischief. Through wit, tension, and sudden revelations, the drama explores desire, duty, class, and the fragile civility holding people together. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.