A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 12

"A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 12" by Robert Dodsley is a collection of old English theater productions, possibly put together in the 1700s. The collection includes plays that show the kinds of theater popular back then, often dealing with topics like love, greed, and pointing out problems in society. In "The Old Couple," written by Thomas May, we meet characters such as Eugeny, who is struggling with sad events, and Theodore, the good son of a stingy man named Earthworm. The story kicks off with a hidden meeting between Eugeny and Artemia, bringing up the ideas of love that's not allowed and the limits put on people by society. Eugeny's words show he's dealing with the pain of what he's done, which makes the relationships in the play interesting and complicated. Through funny conversations and serious thoughts, the play mixes humor with a study of human nature, which was typical for theater at the time.