The Admirable Crichton

"The Admirable Crichton" by J. M. Barrie is a comedic play that explores the shifting sands of social class and human nature. When the foppish Ernest Woolley and the dutiful butler Crichton, along with Lord Loam and other members of the upper class, find themselves shipwrecked on a desert island, the rigid structure of Edwardian society is turned upside down. The play begins in the grandeur of Loam House, where witty banter and social posturing establish the characters and hint at the friction of class divisions; then, the sudden disaster reveals unexpected strengths and weaknesses as Crichton rises to lead, challenging preconceived notions of superiority and servitude while characters navigate a survival situation where the old rules no longer apply and the true value of each person is exposed.