Special Sub-Topic: Great Lies In Drama Click Here To Play: Great Lies In Drama

In "Hamlet", Hamlet lies about Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and thereby seals their fate. How does Hamlet accomplish the lie?

In a letter. Hamlet substitutes the names of R&G in the letter for his own name.

In "Othello", Othello is manipulated by Iago's lie about Desdemona's infidelity. Who does Iago identify as Desdemona's lover?

Cassio. Roderigo is also a character in the play, but Tybalt and Mercutio are from "Romeo and Juliet".

"The Letter" in Somerset Maugham's play of the same name is important because it reveals that the protagonist has lied in regard to ...?

Her motive. Her love letter to the victim will contradict her story of his unwanted and uninvited advances.

In Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", George and Martha engage in a series of lies regarding a fictional ...?

Child. They invent a fictitious child. (Yes, it IS strange.)

In Lillian Hellman's "The Children's Hour", the plot revolves around a child's lie. What does the lie concern?

Sex. False accusations of a romance between the two main female characters.

In Arthur Miller's "All My Sons", a key elememnt of the plot hinges upon whether a principal character had lied. About what?

Knowledge of defective merchandise at his business. Did Joe know that the airplanes were defective? Did he stay out "sick" on the crucial day in order to beat the rap and stick his partner? (Yes, he did.)

In "The Man Who Came To Dinner", the protagonist lies to everyone by concealing the fact that he is able to ...?

Walk. In this clever comedy by Kaufman & Hart, Sheridan Whiteside pretends for a while that his injury still prevents him from leaving his wheelchair.

In Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest", one of the characters lies by "bunburying". This refers to the creation of a false ...?

Relative. Bunbury is a fictitious person who is called into being whenever convenient.

In "West Side Story", Tony's death is sealed when he hears the lie that Maria is dead. Who invents the lie?

Anita. Modern variation on Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet".

In Eugene O'Neill's "Anna Christie", Anna has lied to her father about her life. She has told him that she is leading a good life, but has in reality been down a different path. In what way?

Prostitution. It really doesn't come as a surprise. (Critics loved this one - but I don't think it's one of his best.)