The Recruiting Officer

Synopsis

Shrewsbury, 1705. A bustling market town becomes the stage for romantic intrigues and military recruitment as Captain Plume arrives to enlist soldiers for Queen Anne’s war

Captain Plume, a charismatic recruiting officer, arrives in Shrewsbury to find both love and new soldiers. He pursues the wealthy Silvia, who disguises herself as a man to test his affections. Meanwhile, Plume’s unscrupulous Sergeant Kite uses trickery to enlist local men. Their schemes become entangled with the romantic pursuits of local gentlemen and ladies, including the jealous Melinda, the fickle Brazen, and the justice’s daughter Sylvia.

The Recruiting Officer is a witty Restoration comedy that blends romantic intrigue with sharp social satire. Through its colourful cast of characters, the play explores themes of love, deception, class, and the ethics of military recruitment. Farquhar, drawing from his own experience as a recruiting officer, paints a vivid picture of early 18th-century provincial life.