中文簡介
zào yáo xué xiào
《造謠學校》主要布局是寫兩個性格不同的弟兄，弟弟查爾斯是一個揮霍成性的浪蕩子，但是宅心忠厚真性善良；哥哥是表面上循規蹈矩，滿口仁義道德的文質彬彬的君子，實則是貪婪偽善的小人。經過幾度測驗，終於露出了本來面目，顯示了無所逃遁的真形，其間高潮迭起，趣味橫生，舞台的效果甚大。
造謠學校長舌婦是很普遍的一個類型，專好談論人家的私事，嫉人有、笑人無，對於有名望有財富有幸福生活的人們，便格外的喜歡蜚短流長，總要“橫挑鼻子豎挑眼”的找出一點點可以訾議的事情來加以誹謗嘲笑，非如此則不快意，有時候根本是空穴來風，出於捏造。《造謠學校》一劇有很著名的一例：
有一晚，在龐陶太太家裡聚會，話題轉到在本國繁殖諾瓦斯考西亞品種羊的困難。在座的一位年輕女士說：
“我知道一些實例：麗蒂夏·派泊爾小姐乃是我的親表姊，她養了一隻諾瓦斯考西亞羊，給她生了一對雙胞胎。”——“什麼！”丹狄賽老太婆（你知道她是耳聾的）大叫起來，“派泊爾小姐生了一對雙胞胎？”這一錯誤使在座的人哄堂大笑。可是，第二天早晨到處傳言，數日之內全城的人都信以為真，麗蒂夏·派泊爾小姐確實生了胖胖的一男一女；不到一星期，有人能指出父親是誰，兩個嬰兒寄在哪個農家養育。
英文簡介
The School for Scandal
The play evolves around the story of two brothers: the hypocritical Joseph Surface and the good natured Charles Surface. Charles is in love with Maria, Sir Peter Teazle’s ward. Lady Sneerwell takes to Charles but Charles does not love her. As a revenge, Lady Sneerwell instigates Joseph to pursue Maria for her money. Joseph, while courting Maria, secretly tries to seduce Lady Teazle, the young and innocent girl who has just married to Sir Peter Teazle. Sir Peter Teazle, misled by Lady Sneerwell and Joseph, assumes that Charles is the person flirting with his young wife.
One day, while Lady Teazle and Joseph are on the verge of committing adultery, Sir Peter returns home. Lady Teazle is forced to hide behind the screen. Then quite by accident, Charles shows up. Sir Peter hides himself with a view to catching the adulterer on the spot. Charles rushes in and he knocks down the screen. Everything comes to light. Sir Peter finds out that it is not Charles but Joseph who is the seducer of his wife. He drives Joseph out of his house.
In the meanwhile, Sir Oliver Surface, the rich, old uncle of the Surface brothers, came back from India. He wants to know which nephew is loyal to him. He visits Charles first. Charles sells all his family portraits except that of his uncle. Then he disguises as a poor relative asking for Joseph’s help but Joseph will never do him a favor.
The comedy has a happy ending. Charles wins the heart of his beloved and gets the inheritance of his uncle. Joseph is punished for his misdemeanor. Lady Teazle, repentant and promising to turn over a new leaf, is reconciled to her husband.
作者作品相關評價
The play is Sheridan's masterpiece. It has been known as a great comedy of manners. In it, the author contrasts two brothers, Joseph Surface and Charles Surface. In the play, Sheridan criticizes Englsih high soceity for its vanity, greed and hypocrisy. This play has been a great success on the stage and regarded as the best English comedy since Shakspears.
《造謠學校》是謝立丹的名篇。被世人成為風尚喜劇。劇中，作者把兄弟兩描畫成鮮明的對比。
謝立丹呵斥英國上層社會的虛榮，貪婪和虛偽。
此外，這一劇本在舞台上也取得了不錯的成績，並被視為僅次於莎士比亞的巨作。
