Complete Plays of John Galsworthy

In a sleek, modern dining room lit by electric light, the Barthwick family—wealthy Liberal MP John, his wife, and their carefree son Jack—host an ill‑timed Easter gathering. When Jack bursts in late at night, clutching a lady’s silk reticule and a silver cigarette‑box, his drunken banter sets off a chain of absurd misunderstandings. The scene quickly fills with the clatter of whisky, misplaced pocket‑money, and the arrival of an unexpected guest, the down‑on‑his‑luck Jones, whose conservative stance clashes with Jack’s self‑styled liberal bravado.

As the night unfolds, the witty repartee between the aristocratic family and the street‑wise intruder exposes the pretensions of high society and the absurdities of political posturing. Galsworthy’s comedy balances sharp social satire with farcical mishaps, from a missing shilling to a mischievous cat‑fur incident, all revolving around the enigmatic silver box. Listeners are drawn into a lively portrait of class and ideology that feels both of its time and timeless, promising laughter and insight.