The fanatics : $b A comedy in three acts

In a tastefully pretentious London terrace, the Freeman family gathers around a dinner table that’s as polished as their outward respectability. Mr. Freeman, a short, round‑bodied patriarch, frets over a missing son and a baffling string of letters, while his wife, Mrs. Freeman, quietly observes the absurdity of their domestic routine. Their attractive daughter Gwen flits in and out, delivering a glass of liqueur and a hint of mystery, as the household’s usual order is subtly upended.

The play’s humor springs from the characters’ exaggerated concerns—late‑arriving office work, strangely timed piano sessions, and the ever‑present question of “what’s the time?”—all delivered with a dry, witty banter. As the family navigates petty grievances and hints of secret correspondences, the audience is treated to a cleverly staged farce that satirizes middle‑class anxieties while keeping the tone light and delightfully chaotic.