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The first night of Richard Sheridan\u2019s classic comedy \u2018The Rivals\u2019 did not go according to plan. Critics thought it was too long, the Irish gentry in the audience were insulted, and an actor was pelted with rotten fruit. It closed after one performance on 17th January, 1775.\nBut then\u2026 after eleven days of rewrites, recasting and edits (a process Sheridan called \u201cprunings, trimmings and patchings\u201d), the show re-opened - and became the much-loved hit it remains to this day.\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly expose how Sheridan exploited his notoriety in Bath to put bums on seats; unpick how the play\u2019s famous \u2018Malapropisms\u2019 achieved seminal status; and revisit the best of Sheridan\u2019s real-life one-liners\u2026\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 \u2018The scourge of Bath\u2019 (The Guardian, 2004):\xa0https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2004/may/15/theatre\n\u2022 The Dramatic Works of Richard Brinsley Sheridan (Cavan Library):\xa0http://www.cavanlibrary.ie/file/Local-Studies/Library-Scanned-Docs/The_dramatic_works_of_Richard_Brinsley_Sheridan.pdf\n\u2022 \u2018What Are Malapropisms?\u2019 (Bright Idea, 2021):\xa0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMdgr-qSAfM\nWe had EVEN MORE to say about Sheridan's second draft. To hear bonus material this and every week*, support the show NOW at\xa0Patreon.com/Retrospectors or on Apple Podcasts.\n(*top two tiers only)\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Emma Corsham.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2021.\n#1700s #Theatre #Arts #UK\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices