The Country Wife

Description

This play was first performed in 1675. Despite being condemed for its immorality and indecency it  was regularly performed until about 1740. From then until 1924 it was only perfomed in severly cut versions.

The play revolves around Horner who is a notorious seducer of married women. In a scheme to continue to gain the company of the fashionable wives he claims to have been made impotent. We can then watch the three intertwined plots as his ruse proves to be very successful, not least because of the willing assitance of some of his targets.

The final scene shows Horner to be triumphant with immoral wit conquering foolish respectability.