Notice: There are currently gaps in the database affecting plays from mid 2023, 2024 and mid 2025 due to a technical issue. We are working to resolve this as quickly as possible and appreciate your patience in the meantime.

Home | About | Contact Us

The Arts Council Playography Na Gaeilge

Plays

Printer Friendly

The Philanderer

OVERVIEW

  • Playwright

    George Bernard (GB) Shaw 

  • Setting

    Drawing Room of a flat in Ashley Gardens in the Victoria district of London.

  • Notes

    Shaw observed that the play "is a dangerous play with a clever but ignominious lead". (Collected Letters, Vol. 1, pg. 486)

  • Synopsis

    Leonard Chateris is involved with two women at the same time, the jealous Julia Craven and Grace Tranfield, a young widow. He doesn't like this situation as 'he's a man who likes to tell the truth, but doesn't want to hear it'. He resolves to end the affair with Julia, by any means, including marriage for him or her.

  • Play Type

    Plays General

    Number Of Acts

    Full-Length

    • Cast size

  • Male

    5

  • Female

    3

  • Total

    8

Original Production

  • Date of First Production

    05 February 1907

  • Original Venue

    Court Theatre

Original Cast
Leonard Chateris Ben Webster
Mrs. Grace Tranfield E. Wynne Matthison
Julia Craven Mary Barton
Colonel Daniel Craven, V.C. Eric Lewis
Mr. Joseph Cuthbertson Luigi Lablache
Sylvia Craven Dorothy Minto
Dr. Paramore Hubert Harben
The Club Page Cecil Bruce
Production Team
Director George Bernard (GB) Shaw
Director Harley Granville-Barker

Published Scripts

Rights Information

Source Of Information