Release date is 2016-07-27

Produced by Paul Haxo with special thanks to the University
of California, Davis and Fordham University, especially
to Patrice Kane and Vivian Shen of the Department of
Archives and Special Collections at the William D. Walsh
Family Library.

"Short and Sweet: A Comic Drama, in One Act" by Adolphus Charles Troughton is a lighthearted comedic play written in the early 19th century, likely reflecting the social dynamics and marital relations of its time. The play explores themes of love and misunderstandings between couples, particularly focusing on the contrasting behaviors and influence men have over their wives. The story revolves around two couples, Mr. Sweet and Mrs. Sweet, and Mr. Short and Mrs. Short, as they navigate the humorous complex of marital expectations and roles. Mr. Sweet, frustrated by the apparent happiness of his friend Mr. Short and his wife’s loyalty, decides to assert his authority, leading to comedic conflicts and misunderstandings, especially when Sweet perceives a romantic implication between Mrs. Sweet and Mr. Billington, a friend. As the evening of a planned outing unfolds, tensions arise, but through a series of comedic exchanges, the truth is revealed, and resolutions are found. Ultimately, the play wraps up with the couples contemplating their relationships and the dynamics within them, highlighting the absurdities of domestic life and the comedic aspects of marital mismatches. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Original publication data not identified