Subject: TEATRO INGLÉS S.
XIX Y XX
Code: 14227 group: B
NPA: CL46706 Mª JOSEFA GÓMEZ GARCÍA
Tom Stoppard. Dirty linen (A play in one act ). Copy from “reprografía”. First performance on 6th April 1976 in London.
Dramatis
personae
Maddie Also noun as Miss Gotobed. Young good looking woman. She works as
a clerk in the House of Commons although she is pretty bad at speed
typing. She seems sincere and innocent with a strong wish to please.
She talks her opinions loud when she should we quiet as a clerk must
Be.
Coklebury-Smythe, M.P Mature man, formal dressing. He likes to borrow French and
Latin expressions when he talks. He does not agree immediately all the
Amendments.
Mcteazle, M.P Mature man, formal dressing. He also likes to use French and
Latin expressions when he talks.
Withenshaw, M.P. (the Chairman of the Committee) Mature man, formal dressing, he
Has a Lancastrian accent and manners. He can be very rude and sarcastic
Sometimes.
Chamberlain, M.P young man.
Mrs. Edbury Young to mature conceited woman, formal dressing.
French, M.P Mature man. Hi is very self-righteous. He is the most serious of all
Characters.
Home Secretary He does not intervene with the rest. Does not say a word.
Plot
They are all members of a Select Committee on Promiscuity in High Places that is taking place in the House of Commons. Since most of them have been going out with a very showy young girl lately, funnily enough the same girl, are worried to be investigated. This girl shows up as the clerk of the Committee. There is no doubt about how she has climbed up so high and who has recommended her to take that place in the House of Commons. Certainly she has not reached that place due to her speed typing skills.
Space
It all happens inside room 3b in the House of Commons in the tower of the Big Ben, apparently an isolated room what gives an intimate character to the whole play.
Time
Lineal time
Literary
resources
They borrow many foreign French expressions to detonate that the speaker is upper-class. Same thing happens with Latin expressions and other jargon that M.Ps
normally use.
The author uses the word STREWTH! To make a freeze moment like the flush light of a camera and all the actors freeze.
Other aspects
It could be misinterpreted as sexist from a feminist point of view.
Personal
opinion
I find it a very funny play. I have enjoyed being for two days in the tower of the Big Ben with them all. It is interesting to see them trying to cover up their mistakes. Probably it has not gone too far from reality but I do not think that we will find M.Ps us funny as Cocklebury-smythe or Withenshaw.