The Critic

The Critic Summary | Act 1, Scene 1, Part 1 Summary

The foibles and pretensions of people who think they know more than they do are the driving forces of both the comedy and dramatic action of this short play. Its simple plot, built around the desire of one theater critic to view the latest attempt at playwriting by another, is less important to the play's thematic point than its tart and perceptive commentary on the foolishness of affectation, self-importance and hypocrisy.

The play's prologue refers to how the purity of the Muses (ancient Greek goddesses of the arts and sciences) has been corrupted by the desire and need to please artistic critics. It also says the author created the play to chide the Muses for giving in to the critics, wondering whether even he, as experienced as he is, can withstand critical influence. The speaker of the prologue begs for the audience's support, and the play begins.

Mr. and Mrs. Dangle sit at breakfast, reading newspapers. Conversation reveals that Dangle is only interested in the theater and doesn't have any desire to look at any other news articles. A new play by the well known Mr. Puff is about to be produced. Before Dangle can get very far in his excited reaction to the news, Mrs. Dangle complains at length about how ridiculous he makes himself with his passion for the theater. Dangle defends himself, quoting Shakespeare and saying the theater is important because it reveals the values of the time and its people. Mrs. Dangle says theater people and non-theater people alike laugh at him behind his back, adding that for those working in the theater the public is the only critic that really matters.

A Servant announces the arrival of Sneer. Dangle starts talking about how he dislikes Sneer's company, but he suddenly has to stop when Sneer comes in. Dangle greets him as though they were great friends and suggests they go together to see the first performance of Puff's play. Sneer turns the conversation to himself, saying he's brought two plays he wants Dangle to give to his producer friends. Dangle complains he's always being taken advantage of, but Sneer reminds him how much Dangle enjoys being in the middle of things. Dangle glances at one of the scripts and comments that it's a tragedy, but Sneer tells him it's really a sentimental romance. He and Mrs. Dangle complain about how the theater has deteriorated from a venue suitable for moral messages to a place where people go to simply be entertained. Dangle says the real deterioration has been in the audience, referring to how the public responds negatively to a play that has any kind of sexual references and to how two well-known playwrights of the time have had to change their styles as a result. Sneer comments that the modesty of audiences is similar to the false modesty of a prostitute. Dangle looks at the second script, and Sneer describes it as a clever, moralistic comedy about a reformed housebreaker. He explains that the writer is determined to use theater to challenge and change the law.

The Servant returns and announces the arrival of Sir Fretful Plagiary. Mrs. Dangle says he's a favorite of hers, simply because everybody else abuses him. Dangle complains that Plagiary insists that no playwright but him is any good. Sneer comments that Plagiary's humility is false. He is unable to accept true criticism but is so desperate to be popular that he'd "rather be abused than not mentioned at all." Sneer and Dangle have read one of Plagiary's plays, and Sneer says how awful it is.