The Doctor’s Dilemma TITLE OF SOURCE: AUTHOR'S NAME - FIRST: LAST: DESCRIPTION: Visual Text Only one man can be saved: shall it be an honest man who works assiduously for the poor, or a charming parasite who happens to be an extraordinary artist? Along the way, the play provides Shaw with an opportunity to discuss and skewer the medical profession, and contemplate mortality.<br>an excerpt:<br>RIDGEON [slowly] Mrs Dubedat: do you really believe in my knowledge and skill as you say you do?<br><br>MRS DUBEDAT. Absolutely. I do not give my trust by halves.<br><br>RIDGEON. I know that. Well, I am going to test you--hard. Will you believe me when I tell you that I understand what you have just told me; that I have no desire but to serve you in the most faithful friendship; and that your hero must be preserved to you.<br><br>MRS DUBEDAT. Oh forgive me. Forgive what I said. You will preserve him to me.<br><br>RIDGEON. At all hazards. [She kisses his hand. He rises hastily]. No: you have not heard the rest. [She rises too]. You must believe me when I tell you that the one chance of preserving the hero lies in Louis being in the care of Sir Ralph.<br><br>MRS DUBEDAT [firmly] You say so: I have no more doubt: I believe you. Thank you.<br><br>RIDGEON. Good-bye. [She takes his hand]. I hope this will be a lasting friendship.<br><br>MRS DUBEDAT. It will. My friendships end only with death.<br><br>RIDGEON. Death ends everything, doesnt it? Goodbye. COMMENTS: Visual Text There's a very interesting question at the heart of this play (the eponymous question in the show's title), but 80% of the play is a discourse rather than a drama. If you were to adapt this play, you would need to invent more events and storyline, or possibly use the 20% which is devoted to story to drive a short one-act. CANDIDATE FOR ADAPTATION?: --- not set --- Not reviewed Promising Unlikely SOURCE MATERIAL: Fable Novella Play Plot summary Short Story -- Parent -- GENRE: Comedy Comic Horror Detective Drama Fable Fairy Tale Fantasy Folklore Folktale Ghost Story Melodrama Mystery Myth Operetta Other Romance Suspense Young Audiences -- Parent -- SETTING: Africa America England Europe Fantasy International New Zealand Pastoral Rural Rustic Science Fiction -- Parent -- LENGTH FOR ADAPTATION: 10 Minutes 15 Minutes 30 Minutes 45 Minutes 60 Minutes 90 Minutes Two Hours -- Parent -- URL FOR PDF DOCUMENT: TheDoctorsDilemma.pdf
