Congreve expertly advances key elements of the plot to lead the reader to the climax in act 3. For example, in act 2, the reader gains insight into the complex plot and relationships as the characters discover they know each other far better than they are willing to admit initially. Subsequently, Congreve provides another clue with act 2's closing distich (a distich is two lines of verse, often rhyming; see citation link below for further explanation) when Waitwell says,
Aye, there’s my grief; that’s the sad change of life;
To lose my title, yet keep my wife.
Waitwell means that when all is done, he will no longer have the title of lord but will remain married, even though the marriage will have occurred as a favor.
The closing distich of act 2 leads the reader to uncover the climax in act 3. Here, Mirabell employs Waitwell to play the...
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role of aristocratic Uncle Rowland, who is to convince Lady Wishfort of his admiration and desire to marry her, hoping she will agree and then allow Millamant to have her fortune and marry. Afterward, the plot is exposed, and Fainall unsuccessfully attempts to use this to obtain Lady Wishfort’s wealth. Congreve uses another distich at the close of act 3 to provide further commentary and signal the dénouement.
The simple answer to your question is that the climax of this play takes place in act 3. For a more detailed examination, see below.
First, let's review the structure of plot, which consists of exposition (setting), rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, and denouement (best described as an epilogue).
In this play, the prologue and first act are the exposition. They work to set up the characters and explain the conflict, as the men do in the opening of act 1. Act 2 is used to build the conflict and is, therefore, the rising action. Act 3 is when the climax occurs. The men we met in act I, Fainall and Marwood, create their comedic plan to trick Lady Wishfort into giving her blessing to the marriage of Marwood and Mrs. Millamant. Act 4 is the falling action, as the plan is carried out, and act V provides both the resolution and the denouement.