Present Laughter By Noel Coward

Posted by Riklaa on December 25, 2012 at 7:35pm

Present Laughter
By Noel Coward
SNT .30.6.1979.

96K

Paul Scofield, Fenella Fielding and Patricia Routledge.

 Present Laughter is a comic play written by Noël Coward in 1939 and first staged in 1942 on tour.  The plot follows a few days in the life of the successful and self-obsessed light comedy actor Garry Essendine as he prepares to travel for a touring commitment in Africa. Amid a series of events bordering on farce, Garry has to deal with women who want to seduce him, placate both his long-suffering secretary and his estranged wife, cope with a crazed young playwright, and overcome his impending mid-life crisis (since he has recently turned forty). The story was described by Coward as "a series of semi-autobiographical pyrotechnics".

Present Laughter LINK

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Tags: BBC, Comedy, Dramatisation, SNT, Satire
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Replies

  • Mike December 26, 2012 at 10:18am


    Thanks, Rick and Bob.  I'm not always crazy about Noel Coward, but love Patricia Routledge and look forward to listening to this play.  Mike

    • Riklaa > Mike December 26, 2012 at 2:10pm

      Hi guys,

      You collectors and listeners alike, did you check out the new posts in Documentaries, Mystery, Drama and Adventure.  There are many new/old SNTs coming on the scene that the Beeb has cleaned up from collectors who recorded the when they were initially broadcast.  There are some excellent plays in the SNT stable.  ------  Rick

  • Anson (Bob) Roberts December 26, 2012 at 8:37am

    Good morning and Happy Boxing Day!

    Just for the record, the SNT broadcast of this play was actually a repeat of an earlier Monday Play (1974-12-23).

    From Radiolistings:

    Adapted and produced by Ian Cotterellwith Paul Scofield, Fenella Fielding, Patricia Routledge,
    Joy Parker and David Timson
    In this Jazz Age play, the main character, Gary Essendine,
    takes Shakespeare's admonition all too seriously, continually
    indulging his considerable appetite for wine, women andSLEEPing late. Garry is vain, ill-tempered and inconsiderate.
    He's also warm, witty and talented.
    The most autobiographical of Noel Coward's plays,
    Present Laughter takes its title from Shakespeare's
    The Twelfth Night: "What is love?/Tis not hereafter/Present
    mirth hath present laughter/What's to come is still unsure/In
    delay there lies no plenty/Then come kiss me, sweet and twenty/Youth's
    a stuff will not endure."

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