Set in a drawing-room in Londonβs Russell Square in 1911, βThe Master of Mrs. Chilvers: An Improbable Comedyβ is a fictional stage play full of wit and warmth, which addresses the issue of womenβs rights in Edwardian England. As the play progresses, and Mrs. Chilvers joins the timely cause of women's suffrage, her seemingly sudden commitment to suffragette radicalism shocks her husband and has a large effect on the rest of her upper class family. The four act play by author and playwright Jerome K Jerome, whose other works include 'Three Men in a Boat' and βThe Observations of Henryβ, begins with a detailed introduction to the play with insightfully personal character descriptions. With whiffs of classic Oscar Wilde and a clear preamble for the 2015 film βSuffragetteβ, starring Carey Mulligan and Meryl Streep, Jerome takes on the genre of family drama and class meets equality, feminism and womenβs liberation in a touching, humorous and forward-thinking way. It was first performed at The Royalty Theatre, London, on April 26th, 1911, starring actors Mary Rorke as Lady Mogton and Lena Ashwell as Annys Chilvers.
Jerome Klapka Jerome (1859-1927) was born in Walsall, in northern Great Britain, on 2nd May 1859. Orphaned as a teenager, he was forced to leave education at just 14 years old to start working. After jobs as an actor, clerk and a teacher, Jerome published his first book in 1885 based upon is own experiences - βOn the Stage and Off: The Brief Career of a Would-Be Actorβ. Stage plays, books and journalism articles followed suit, including his most successful book β an autobiographical story entitled 'Three Men in a Boat'. Other works include βIdle Thoughts of an Idle Fellowβ, βSecond Thoughts of an Idle Fellowβ, 'The Observations of Henry' and βThree Men on the Bummelβ. Jerome founded the weekly magazine βTo-Dayβ in 1893 and edited another magazine named βThe Idlerβ until 1898, whilst also working as a lecturer and writer in England. During World War 1, he wasnβt accepted for active service in the UKβs army so instead enlisted as an ambulance driver in the French army. He died on 14th June 1927 after suffering a stroke.