The Bald Soprano by Eugène Ionesco. Short summary

5 seconds

The events of the play take place in a prim English family. Mr. and Mrs. Martin come to the Smith couple for dinner. And here comes the captain of the fire department, who has to carry out a plan to put out the fires.

1 minute

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are sitting in the living room. Mr. Smith is holding a newspaper and Mrs. Smith is darning a sock. The couple are discussing dinner.

The Smiths’ maid, Mary, the girl who went on the date, appears. Mary reports that the Martin couple, who were expected for dinner, has arrived. The Smiths go to change.

Mr. and Mrs. Martin sit in the living room. For some reason the couple do not recognize each other, though they are sure they have met somewhere. Perhaps in bed. And they both have a daughter, Alice. Eventually the couple discovers that they are husband and wife after all.

The Smith spouses return to the living room. A strange conversation about nothing begins between the hosts and guests. Everyone tells silly stories.

A fireman appears in the living room, who has a plan to put out fires. But there is no fire in the house, and he just stays to chat. He is asked about the bald singer’s hair. Mrs. Smith replies that «she always styles her hair the same way.» The fireman leaves. A conversation continues between the guests and the hosts, and eventually everyone quarrels.