George Farquhar in 1707 was living in dire poverty in a garret and seriously ill with tuberculosis. Robert Wilks, the actor, a life-long friend, gave him some money to write a comedy. Six weeks later The Beaux’ Stratagem was staged. The premiere was a great success. Seven weeks later Farquhar was dead. He was only 29.
The two beaux are seriously broke, having squandered their inheritances. Their stratagem is to leave London and go in search of a fortune. They are looking for rich women to marry. “No woman can be a beauty without a fortune.” They arrive in Lichfield, disguised as master and servant.
Mrs Sullen, a lady of refined taste, who lives in Lichfield but longs to live in London, is unhappily married to a lethargic drunkard who loathes her as much as she loathes him.
They have been married 14 months. It feels like 14 years. Farquhar knew all about unhappy marriages. He had married an older woman or rather an older man had married him. He believed she had money, only to find she had no money.
The National Theatre in 1970 had one of its biggest triumphs with Farquhar’s play when it was directed by William Gaskill and starred Maggie Smith.The present revival, which is directed by Simon Godwin and also at the National Theatre, is very enjoyable. Geoffrey Streatfeild and Samuel Barnett are the beaux. Susannah Fielding is Mrs Sullen. The scene in the picture gallery, when a beau is shamelessly flattering Mrs Sullen, is particularly delightful. Pearce Quigley is very amusing as Scrub, the servant.