La Tontine

Dr. Peacock expects to make a fortune by keeping one sturdy old peasant alive. In this one-act comedy by Alain René Le Sage, the doctor has invested in a tontine, a scheme whose rewards grow as other members die. Dudley, the man on whom his hopes depend, finds that the promised care means repeated treatments and a diet that leaves him hungry. Peacock's partnership with the pharmacist Flem adds another layer of business to his medical confidence.

Marriage becomes part of the same bargain when Peacock offers Flem his daughter Harriet and a share of the expected income. Harriet and Worthy want to be together, while Jeremy and Trippet look for ways to upset the arrangement. Set in the doctor's house, the play uses sharp exchanges, flattery and planned disguises to expose the gap between professional authority and common sense. Readers interested in stage comedy can follow how money and family wishes become competing schemes.