Three hundred years ago,
Restoration comedy was at its height, but by 1800 the numerous witty dramas of the period were unperformed and largely unknown. Peter Holland investigates their neglect and their resurrection and considers in particular four milestone productions: The Way of the World (1924, with Edith Evans ), The Recruiting
Officer (1963, directed by William Gaskill ), The
Relapse (1967, with Donald Sinden as Lord Foppington) and The Man of Mode
(1988, with Simon Russell -Beale as Sir Fopling). With contributions from Jacqueline Bratton , Michael Cordner , William Gaskill , Robert Hewison , Kenneth Muir , Simon Russell-Beale ,
Donald Sinden and Max Stafford-Clark .
Producer Daniel Snowman
See also 7.30pm