You Never Can Tell

"You Never Can Tell" by Bernard Shaw is a theatrical play created in the late 1800s. The story begins in a seaside dentist's office, bringing a funny tone and showing the social behaviors of the time. The story introduces several characters, especially a young woman named Dolly Clandon and her brother Philip, who talk with the new dentist, Valentine. Their playful jokes hint at themes about who people are, family, and social rules. The play starts with an active scene in the dentist's office, where the dentist is taking care of Dolly, who is both brave and curious. The conversation between Dolly and Valentine makes the atmosphere light and teasing, showing Dolly's interesting personality. Soon, her brother Phil comes in, and together they share their family's odd habits, including a mystery about their father that both interests and bothers them. As the conversation goes on, we find out about their mother, Mrs. Clandon, and how important it is to her that people are honest and independent, which leads to funny misunderstandings about family connections that will be revealed in the rest of the play.