Name the dramas which fall within the category of the Theatre of the AbsurD)
A) The Birthday Party
B) Endgame
C) Mrs. Warren’s Profession
D) The Rhinoceros
E) Riders to the Sea
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

The correct answer is A, B and D.

To understand why this is the correct choice, let us analyze the literary movement known as the Theatre of the Absurd and look at each of the plays listed in the question:
The Theatre of the Absurd is a term coined by critic Martin Esslin for a style of drama that emerged in the mid-20th century (primarily the 1950s and 1960s). It depicts the absurdity of human existence in a universe devoid of purpose or meaning, often utilizing disjointed, repetitious, or nonsensical dialogue, lack of logical plot development, and existential themes.

Let's evaluate each play option individually:

A) The Birthday Party:
Written by Harold Pinter and first performed in 1958, this play is a classic example of the Theatre of the Absurd (specifically "comedy of menace"). It features characters whose motivations remain unclear, ambiguous power dynamics, and a breakdown of communication and logic, reflecting absurdist qualities.

B) Endgame:
Written by Samuel Beckett and published in 1957, Beckett is arguably the most prominent figure of the Theatre of the Absurd. Endgame deals directly with existential dread, repetition, decay, and the ultimate meaninglessness of life, placing it firmly in this category.

C) Mrs. Warren’s Profession:
Written by George Bernard Shaw in 1893, this is a realist social drama (specifically a "problem play") focusing on Victorian social hypocrisy, capitalism, and prostitution. It does not belong to the Theatre of the Absurd.

D) The Rhinoceros:
Written by Eugène Ionesco in 1959, this play is a landmark of avant-garde absurdist theatre. Ionesco is one of the key writers of the movement. The play uses the surreal and absurd premise of inhabitants of a French town turning into rhinoceroses to critique conformity, totalitarianism, and the loss of individual humanity.

E) Riders to the Sea:
Written by J.M. Synge in 1904, this is a one-act Irish peasant tragedy associated with the Irish Literary Revival. It relies on realism, folklore, and tragedy rather than the conventions of the Theatre of the Absurd.

Therefore, the plays that fall within the Theatre of the Absurd are A (The Birthday Party), B (Endgame), and D (The Rhinoceros), making the correct option A, B and D.