The Bald Soprano - Mr. and Mrs. Smith

The Smiths are the central characters in this play. Both are described in stage directions as being English in every aspect of their lives which, as discussed in the analysis of the play, suggests that the author is making a satirical point about what it means to be English and how English-ness manifests. This sense of satire extends to how the characters in the play are individualized, and in particular these two characters. Mr. Smith is quiet and short tempered, a portrayal of what is often perceived as a typical Englishman, while Mrs. Smith is chatty and gossipy, again a portrayal of perceptions rather than an individual. These characterizations, more than any of the other characterizations in this play or in the other plays in this collection, walk a fine line between being archetypal and/or stereotypical.

Meanwhile, the way the...