Project Gutenberg
1996-06-01
Public domain in the USA.
371
Tyler, Royall
1757
1826
Tyler, William Clark
McKee, Thomas Jefferson
1840
1899
The Contrast
Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Contrast_(play)
1st US Play Performed
Produced by Judith Boss
"The Contrast" by Royall Tyler is a comedy written in the late 18th century. This play holds significant historical importance as the first American play to be staged by a professional acting company, highlighting the evolving American theatrical landscape. The narrative juxtaposes American values and character with those of foreign manners and customs, primarily through the experiences of the main character, Colonel Manly, and his interactions with other characters such as the fashionable Mr. Dimple and the spirited women in their circle. At the start of the play, we are introduced to Charlotte and Letitia, who engage in lively banter regarding dress and societal expectations, revealing the comedic and satirical tone of the work. As they discuss their friends and impending nuptials, we see emerging themes of societal norms, the struggles of love, and the contrast of honest American character against superficial foreign influences. The opening also establishes a rich array of characters, setting the stage for comedic misunderstandings and romantic entanglements, particularly as Charlotte’s brother, Colonel Manly, enters the scene, further complicating the social dynamics at play. Overall, the beginning sets a vibrant and humorous tone that promises both entertainment and commentary on the cultural contrasts of the time. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Reading ease score: 79.9 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
en
Comedy plays
American drama (Comedy)
PS
Text
Category: Humour
Category: Plays/Films/Dramas
Category: American Literature
193705
2025-10-01T05:46:31.174666
text/html
193522
193465
2025-01-01T06:01:24.001263
2023-10-01T05:37:02.872218
text/html
text/html
137469
2025-10-01T05:46:37.492187
application/epub+zip
134638
2025-10-01T05:46:33.024155
application/epub+zip
134639
2025-10-01T05:46:31.883120
application/epub+zip
242142
2025-10-01T05:46:40.626115
application/x-mobipocket-ebook
227209
2025-10-01T05:46:36.614144
application/x-mobipocket-ebook
197816
2022-09-01T06:22:45.199500
application/x-mobipocket-ebook
148355
2025-10-01T05:46:30.877671
text/plain; charset=us-ascii
148190
2021-01-01T09:41:58
text/plain; charset=us-ascii
56783
2021-01-01T09:41:58
text/plain; charset=us-ascii
application/zip
18868
2025-10-01T05:46:40.764127
application/rdf+xml
9401
2025-10-01T05:46:32.371122
image/jpeg
2649
2025-10-01T05:46:32.126124
image/jpeg
124025
2025-10-01T05:46:31.191623
application/octet-stream
application/zip
Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at
https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog
en.wikipedia