Nov 21, 2008

The Bald Soprano | The Bald Soprano

At a glance:

Author: Eugène Ionesco
First Published: 1954
Type of Work: Absurdist
Time of Work: The 1950’s
Setting: The suburbs of London
Principal Characters: Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith, Mr. Martin, Mrs. Martin, Mary, The Fire Chief
Genres: Drama, Absurdist literature
Subjects: 1950’s, Language or languages, Middle classes, Communication, 1940’s, Alienation, London, Existentialism
Locales: London, England

The Play

As the curtain rises on The Bald Soprano, the audience sees a “middle-class interior” and is witness to what appears to be a naturalistic “slice of life.” Mr. Smith is sitting comfortably near a fireplace, smoking a pipe and reading the newspaper, while Mrs. Smith is darning some socks. This impression of blissful tranquillity is interrupted by something unexpected and odd: The clock strikes seventeen strokes. The general tone of the play is immediately set when Mrs. Smith exclaims: “Goodness! It’s nine o’clock.” Mr. and Mrs. Smith proceed to...

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The Bald Soprano | The Bald Soprano

At a glance:

The Play

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