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Masks and Faces; or, Before and Behind the Curtain: A Comedy in Two Acts: Play Guide and Free Edition

Masks and Faces; or, Before and Behind the Curtain: A Comedy in Two Acts: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

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AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject

Masks and Faces; or, Before and Behind the Curtain: A Comedy in Two Acts is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Reade, Charles (1814–1884); Taylor, Tom (1817–1880).

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"Masks and Faces; or, Before and Behind the Curtain: A Comedy in Two Acts" by Tom Taylor and Charles Reade is a play written in the mid-19th century. This comedic work delves into the complex relations between actors and their realities as it unfolds behind the scenes of a theatrical performance, highlighting themes of love, ambition, and societal perceptions. The main character, Peg Woffington, is an actress who navigates her complicated relationships with Sir Charles Pomander and Ernest Vane, set against the backdrop of the theatrical world. The opening of the play introduces us to the lively atmosphere of the Green Room at Covent Garden Theatre, where various characters discuss dinner plans and offer witty commentary on each other's performances. We meet Woffington, Vane, and Pomander, as Vane expresses his admiration for Woffington and Pomander's cynical view of love. The dialogue reveals the tensions inherent in their relationships, where admiration can easily shift to rivalry. The blend of comedic exchanges sets the stage for the drama and comedic misunderstandings that are bound to unfold as the dinner party approaches, promising intrigue and playful interactions among the characters.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: Masks and Faces; or, Before and Behind the Curtain: A Comedy in Two Acts
  • Author credits: Reade, Charles (1814–1884); Taylor, Tom (1817–1880)
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • Woffington, Margaret, -1760 -- Drama

Gutenberg collections

  • Category: British Literature
  • Category: Humour
  • Category: Plays/Films/Dramas

Read this edition

View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.

Source notes

Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.

Sources

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