She Would If She Could

She Would If She Could is a 1668 comedy play by the English writer George Etherege. It was originally staged at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre by the Duke's Company. The play's novelty lies in its shedding of the romantic verse element to attain a unified tone. The play deals with the lustfulness of Cockwood couple; the title referring to Lady Cockwood looking for an opportunity to cheat Sir Oliver Cockwood.

The original cast included William Smith as Courtall, John Young as Freeman, Henry Harris as Sir Joslin, James Nokes as Sir Oliver, Moll Davis as Getty and Anne Shadwell as Lady Cockwood.

Act One opens as Mr Courtall and his friend, Mr Freeman, are discussing the wickedness of London. A servant arrives to announce that Courtall has a female visitor. To protect the lady's honour he hides Freeman in a cupboard. The female visitor is Mrs Sentry, the maid of the middle-aged Lady Cockwood. She has come to announce the arrival in town of her mistress and master, Sir Oliver Cockwood, and to arrange a tryst between her mistress and Courtall. She (falsely) claims that she is there without Lady Cockwood's knowledge. Sentry is thrown into a panic when Sir Oliver comes to call on Courtall. The latter hides Sentry in a different cupboard.

Sir Oliver has come to town for wine, women and pleasure after finding the country too dull. Courtall is not surprised but chastises him for breaking the heart of his “innocent” wife. Sir Oliver admits that she loves him too much, but it's OK as he will carry on behind her back, so she won't know. He then asks Courtall to try to persuade his wife to love him “a little less”. Courtall refuses to do so but agrees to dine with him and his friend Sir Joslin Jolley that evening.

After he leaves, Sentry comes out of her cupboard. She is shocked at her master's falseness in cheating on his wife, before returning to arranging the meeting of Lady Cockwood and Courtall for the same evening.

After she leaves, Freeman comes out of his cupboard. He is shocked that Courtall is going to meet both husband and wife on the same evening, before Courtall reveals that he has been repeatedly avoiding the advances of Lady Cockwood the whole time. He does not want to upset her, but not man above 16 is safe from her attempted advances.

The scene then changes to the Cockwood's home, where Lady Cockwood is overdramatically regretting sending Sentry to arrange it all. When Sentry returns she begins to tell her mistress of all that has occurred, before she can finish Lady Cockwood begins to wail at her misfortune at being discovered. Sentry then finishes her tale and Lady Cockwood reveals she knows all about Sir Oliver's carrying on with younger women, and is happy enough as it allows her time to chase younger men.

When Sir Oliver and Sir Joslin appear, Lady Cockwood feigns innocence and upset that her husband is going out for the evening without her. Sir Joslin tells her that they will not be out drinking. Sir Joslin's nieces, Ariana and Gatty arrive as Sir Oliver and their uncle depart. They notice that Lady Cockwood and Sentry are up to something. They agree they are both bored with being demure ladies and want to have some fun of their own. They agree to go in disguise to The Mulberry Gardens to find some young men to flirt with and break the hearts of.