Satire
The Physician In Spite of Himself
The Physician In Spite of Himself … is written in a most unbounded spirit of mirth, the matrimonial breezes wafting a certain amount of refr…
How to Make a Man of Consequence
Mark Lemon had a natural talent for journalism and the stage, and, at twenty-six, retired from less congenial business to devote himself to …
The Rose And The Ring
Victorian social satire hiding in a set of children's fairy tales by the author of the classic "Vanity Fair" - Summary by Stav Ni…
Bob and Ray
This segment features a variety of comedic sketches and interviews from the beloved duo Bob and Ray. The tape includes a Father's Day song, …
Cinderella
If you are expecting glass slippers and pumpkin coaches, look elsewhere... This is "a pantomime as Ibsen would have written it, if only…
The Litigants
This play, which is neither a comedy or a farce but has elements in common with each, was first performed in 1668 at Paris, and afterwards a…
The Female Quixote
The Female Quixote is a witty and insightful satire that turns the conventions of romance on their head. In this novel, Arabella, a young wo…
A Treatise of Religion
Part diatribe, part discourse, part sermon and part stand-up comedy, this is Fulke Greville's 114 stanza, verse-poem about religious hypocri…
Mervyn Wall Unfortunate Fursey
The Unfortunate Fursey is based on the novel by Mervyn Wall and adapted by Christina Reid. When Satan invades a medieval monastery, he wants…
The Big Drum
Another Pinero play. Biting satire this time, ironic comedy - not a farce. The Big Drum, a novel being written by Phil, one of the main char…
Roger MacDougall Escapade
Escapade is a compelling story about a man with strong humanitarian instincts who dedicates his life to promoting international peace. His a…
The Pleasures of Ignorance
From the pen of the Irish poet and essayist, Robert Lynd, comes a collection of humorous and satirical essays on topics as wide ranging as c…
H.M.S. Pinafore
In this recording, one person reads the entire play, all parts, including the stage directions. Even without the support of Arthur Sullivan…
The Rehearsal
A satirical play poking fun at the overblown tragedies produced in the time of the Restoration, first staged in 1671. It uses the device of …
Buried Alive
An ingenious satire, "Buried Alive" is Arnold Bennett at his most charming and wittiest. The story follows a renowned but exceedin…
Zadig or The Book of Fate
"there is no Evil under the Sun, but some Good proceeds from it:" -- this quote from this novel sums it up. One of Voltaire's most…
A Family of Noblemen
Meet the Golovliovs, the ultimate dysfunctional family. In the difficult transition years before and after the liberation of Russia’s serfs,…
The Bab Ballads
The Bab Ballads are a collection of light verse by W. S. Gilbert, illustrated with his own comic drawings. Gilbert wrote the Ballads before …
Conversation, as it was by the Social Fireside
Please note: this recording contains strong language."1601," wrote Mark Twain, "is a supposititious conversation which takes …
Prejudices
Mencken is famous for his sometimes-savage attacks on almost everything humans can in their stupidity and priggishness and prejudice conjure…