A decadent and aging man-about-town finds his schemes for pleasure collapsing into a series of farcical disasters. This lively stage comedy skewers the moral bankruptcy of the upper class and the absurdity of religious zealotry with equal fervor. Fielding’s sharp dialogue and sense of timing create a whirlwind of comedic energy that exposes the follies of his age. It is a classic example of the irreverent and bawdy spirit of 18th-century theater.