ABSTRACT
The Rivals was produced at the beginning of the year 1775, and in May of the same year, Sheridan wrote St Patrick’s Day, a short farce. It was written as an act of gratitude to Clinch, the actor who had saved the day as Sir Lucius O’Trigger, and was given as a benefit for him. Clinch had a large and needy family, and Sheridan was determined that the actor should profit considerably from his benefit.
