A Bold Stroke for a Husband: A Comedy in Five Acts

About

Set against the vibrant, sun-drenched backdrop of Madrid, A Bold Stroke for a Husband (1783) is Hannah Cowley’s electrifying, feminist-forward comedy of manners that completely flips traditional 18th-century gender roles on their head. The plot follows two fiercely independent women taking control of their own destinies: the spirited Olivia, who unleashes a series of outrageous antics to terrify her unwanted suitors and outsmart her overbearing father, and the resourceful Victoria, who adopts a daring male disguise to infiltrate the life of a scheming courtesan and reclaim her husband's stolen estate. Bursting with breathless Shakespearean hijinks, razor-sharp verbal sparring, and brilliant deceptions, Cowley’s masterful five-act play serves as both a hilarious theatrical romp and a radical critique of patriarchal marriage conventions. Ultimately, it proves that when it comes to love, autonomy, and survival, the women are always holding the winning cards.