The Squire: An Original Comedy in Three Acts

"The Squire: An Original Comedy in Three Acts" by Arthur Wing Pinero is a play set in the English countryside during the late 1800s which uses humor to look at how social status, dreams, and love mix together. The story centers on a wealthy woman named Kate Verity. Several men with different social standings compete to win her heart, while battling topics of love, the issues with class, and allegiance. The play opens in an old manor where Christiana Haggerston talks with her brother, Izod, who desires to become employed by Kate, a respected person in the community. The arrival of Gilbert Hythe complicates things, as his past with Kate stirs up jealousy and shows the differences in social classes. The interactions of the characters creates a funny and touching look at village life, containing elements of mystery surrounding Kate's affection for a soldier named Eric Thorndyke.