Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • Terence Rattigan: A British playwright known for his well-crafted, often emotionally restrained dramas that explore themes of repression, social convention, and personal failure, primarily active in the mid-20th century.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The National Theatre staged a revival of Terence Rattigan's "The Deep Blue Sea". (This names the specific author of the play.)
  • Her thesis analyzes the portrayal of post-war Britain in the works of Terence Rattigan. (This uses the name to refer to the playwright and his collective body of work.)
  • He is considered a master of the "well-made play," a tradition upheld by Terence Rattigan. (This identifies the playwright in the context of a theatrical style.)

Advanced Usage

• "Rattiganesque" (adj): Characteristic of or resembling the plays of Terence Rattigan, particularly in terms of emotional restraint, elegant dialogue, and focus on middle-class manners and repression.
  • The film's subdued tension and focus on unspoken feelings were distinctly Rattiganesque.

Variants and Related Words

• Rattigan (n): A shortened, informal reference to the playwright or his works.
  • The season includes a double bill of Rattigan.

Synonyms

• Dramatist: A writer of plays.
• Playwright: A person who writes plays.

Related Phrases

• "The Rattigan revival": A phrase referring to the renewed critical and popular interest in Terence Rattigan's works from the late 20th century onward.
  • The Rattigan revival has cemented his status as a major 20th-century dramatist.

Noun

1. British playwright (1911-1977)