On this day in 1775, Richard Brinsley Sheridan's The Rivals premiered. This was Sheridan's first play; below is the first entrance and first malapropism of his most famous character, at this point walking in on and then all over niece Lydia's choice in books and beaus:
LYDIA: Here, my dear Lucy, hide these books -- Quick, quick -- Fling Peregrine Pickle under the toilet--throw Roderick Random into the closet -- put The Innocent Adultery into The Whole Duty of Man -- thrust Lord Aimworth under the sofa -- cram Ovid behind the bolster -- there -- put The Man of Feeling into your pocket -- so, so, now lay Mrs ... FULL STORY »
