The Art of Being Bored: A Comedy in Three Acts

"The Art of Being Bored: A Comedy in Three Acts" by Edouard Pailleron is a play that looks at the lives of people in Paris during the late 1800s. The story shows the relationships between characters as they deal with the challenges presented by their roles in society. The main characters, Paul and Jeanne, are a recently married couple trying to find their way through social rules and the artificial world of high society. The play starts in a drawing-room where we see how people in this influential group interact with each other. Paul coaches Jeanne on how to act properly around these important people, stressing the need to be sophisticated. As more people show up, like their wealthy host and other socialites, the play introduces ideas about political goals, what society expects, and the fight against boredom. The play starts with a funny but critical view of how shallow these people are, suggesting that the characters are very concerned with mastering the art of appearing bored.