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The Shirt Summary by Francis Dillon in English

 Francis Dillon, a B.B.C. producer, wrote this satirical comedy. The play highlights the emptiness of modern life, where we've lost our joy and ability to live happily, through the melancholy King's life.

The Queen meets with the Chancellor, nobles, councillors, magicians, and commoners at the King's court. Queen convenes a meeting to solve the kingdom's problem. The chancellor says the whole kingdom shares the Queen's sorrow because melancholy has overtaken the King and she wants a cure. She asked the court physician to speak, and he said the King has Melancholy humour, which can be cured by laughter.

Buckram thinks jesters should tell new jokes. Buckram brings a German doctor who says the king must wear a happy man's shirt for seven days. Then a committee defines happiness. It has 42 definitions. Two definitions replaced 42. One definition favours brains over brawn.

Queen wants to tempt the King to recover. She asks a beloved court poet to sing in praise of the King to cheer him up. The poet tries to calm the king by suggesting he hunt unicorns. Buckram offers 50,000 gold dinars for a Unicorn, dead or alive. Buckram promises the Queen he'll bring entertainers and doctors from neighbouring states to cheer up the king. Later, Buckram's entertainers fill the King's court hall. Buckram's doctor examines the King and says he fears death and old age and can be cured by wearing a happy man's shirt for 7 days. The king says everyone is happy except him. The chancellor promises the king he'll bring the happiest man. He asked the secretary to find the happy man.

Armed and unarmed people suddenly fought. Between Brain and Brawn. The Queen asked a beggar if he was rich. Still unhappy, the queen. She searches the country for a happy man but is unsuccessful. She wants to quit and return home. A beggar appears. Happy begging. He's broke. He's rich. He enjoys singing. Happy queen. Finally, she's happy.

The queen offers to bring the beggar to the palace, but he refuses. He's brought to court. The beggar tells the king he has no shirt. Amused, the king laughs. He can't stop laughing. Everyone is happy because he's no longer depressed.

Francis Dillon's play depicts the emptiness of modern life, where men have lost the ability to be happy in their pursuit of material wealth.

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