The Beggarss Opera, The School For Scandal And Other Eighteenth Century Plays

Macheath - one of the most seductive villains in literature Being a highwayman of the gallant sort, Macheath is passionatly loved by Polly. Their resulting marriage enrages her father so much that he informs on Macheath, who is thrown into Newgate Prison. Polly is devastated - yet her wayward husband loses no time in prison, wooing Lucy, the warden's daughter. Visiting their beloved in his cell the two women engage in a spirited competition for the bandit' s affections. The Beggar's Opera is not only a great comedy, but a perfect example of the political satire popular in its day. Mixing humour and tragedy, the plays in this volume reflect the full scope of the period's theatre. The most comprehensive paperback edition available with introduction, notes and chronologies