A selection of comedy of manners plays by French playwright Jean-Pierre Martinez, available in English. These contemporary social comedies explore relationships, conventions, hypocrisy, status, ambition and the rituals of everyday life.
Comedy of manners uses wit and satire to reveal the gap between social appearances and private motives. Characters try to preserve their image, respectability or position while desire, money, rivalry and self-interest gradually expose the contradictions behind their behaviour.
Browse the plays below to discover their synopses, cast information, scripts available for reading and information about performance rights.
Alice and Luke have been waiting for years to adopt a baby. Finally, the big day has arrived. The social worker from the Child Welfare agency is expected any minute for a final visit to assess the stability of their relationship, their motivation to adopt, and the child’s future living conditions. But disaster strikes as Alex isn’t home which risks jeopardising everything. Fred must find a way to handle this delicate situation, made worse by a sudden plumbing emergency. Unless the arrival of the plumber provides part of the solution …
Since his first novel was published and won the Goncourt Prize, Alexander has enjoyed a reputation as a successful author, and is reaping the benefits. He is expected at the Ministry of Culture to be awarded with the insignia of Knight of Arts and Letters. Then, he receives a visit from a stranger who could jeopardize his success...
Robert and Caroline Blanc would love to marry their daughter Victoria off to Stanislas de Coursensac, the mayor's son, who’s on the verge of being re-elected. But this boulevard comedy seems to have no way out...
Khalid meets his fiancee Diana's parents for the first time. Irritated by his future in-laws' condescending attitude and their obnoxious pride for their pure-blood French ancestry they claim goes back to the Middle Ages, Khalid playfully challenges Diana to prove the authenticity of her heritage with a DNA test. They could never have foreseen the chain reaction triggered by the surprising outcome of this test ...
A bag full of banknotes can help to provide a lavish gay wedding for one's son. However, ill-gotten gains never bring lasting benefits...
Peter and Karen have invited a couple they met at a restaurant, with whom they vaguely get along, for drinks. But since then, they've all had time to sober up, and they realise they don't have much in common to share. It looks like it might be a long evening. Unless...
In a late-night bar under police surveillance, where officers are hunting a dangerous psychopath, a sinister bartender becomes the confidant of lonely patrons seeking to meet mysterious partners from the internet
Mr. and Mrs. Camembert have just bought the dilapidated castle of Moulinrouge, and they have invited the local high society for a dinner concert. They hope this will gain them admission as members of the town's highly exclusive Philanthropic Club. But soon, the pianist's head appears floating in the pool. And to think we're barely at the appetisers..
To work or not to work, that is the question. During a break for electronic cigarettes, a few workaholics exchange hazy remarks.
Robin, a seemingly unremarkable employee at a rapidly growing tech company, is retiring tonight. Determined to bid farewell to his young boss, he insists on a final meeting. What begins as a simple courtesy soon escalates into a heated confrontation. But in this virtual game of cat and mouse, who really holds the mouse?
After inviting the fiancé's parents over to get acquainted and plan the wedding, they soon realize that the parents of the perfect son-in-law don't always make for perfect in-laws…
A journalist visits a playwright on the down and out for an interview that could launch his comeback. But in the world of theatre, appearances can be deceiving…
In a small bookstore, a book signing event is being prepared. Charles has finally decided to publish his first novel. Everything suggests that it won't be a bestseller. But in the era of the internet, a miracle is always possible...
That little moment of panic on December 31st, when you realise you have no plans for the evening... You're ready to accept any invitation just to avoid ringing in the New Year alone. Even at the risk of having the worst New Year's Eve of your life.
Rocamor-le-Château is on the verge of being crowned The Most Beautiful Village in France. Meanwhile, the second round of local elections threatens to hand the mayor's office to a candidate from the Populist Front. At La Part des Anges, the village pub, the town's key figures are discussing who will win: the current mayor or his opponent. However, a series of unexpected events disrupts the election process, echoing Winston Churchill's famous assertion: Democracy is the worst form of government—except for all the others.
Two tourists arrive at the villa they rented for their holidays in a Maghreb country, which was on special offer after its recent revolution. However, they find the house already occupied by another couple...