The Old Bachelor: A Comedy

Set in the glittering world of late‑Restoration London, the play follows a miserly widower determined to outwit both age and fortune. Sir Joseph, the “old bachelor,” is intent on marrying a rich widow while simultaneously arranging advantageous matches for his nieces and wards. His schemes draw in a parade of pretentious suitors, witty courtesans, and clever servants, each eager to profit from the tangled marriage market.

Congreve’s sparkling dialogue crackles with the sort of sharp humour that makes every misunderstanding feel both inevitable and delightful. The younger characters, especially the headstrong Lady Townly and her beaux, clash with old‑fashioned propriety, offering a lively commentary on love, greed, and social ambition. Listeners will be drawn into a world where compliments hide ulterior motives, and where every witty retort could turn the fortunes of the household upside down.