Overview
Synopsis
Present Laughter is lighthearted farce that celebrates playwright Noel Coward’s legendary wit and larger-than-life persona. Based on Coward himself, actor Garry Essendine is the star of the London theatrical scene at the height of his fame and adored by legions of admirers--perhaps a little too much. Fans regularly throw themselves at Garry’s feet, drawn in by his charm and charisma, throwing his household into chaos. In the week before Garry is set to embark on an African tour, he is forced to juggle a besotted young woman with stars in her eyes, an unhinged young playwright obsessed with being in Garry’s presence, his best friend’s wife who is determined to seduce him, his manager, his producer, his secretary, his estranged ex-wife, and an impending mid-life crisis as his 40th birthday looms ever closer.
Show Information
- Book
- Noël Coward
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1942
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- Garry Essendine’s London flat, 1940s
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
The title of Present Laughter is drawn from a line in the song “O mistress mine” in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, sung by Feste the fool: “present mirth hath present laughter.”
Playwright Noel Coward ruminated over the idea of Present Laughter for 3 years before sitting down to write it; once he did, the play was completed in 6 days. He wrote the play in tandem with another comedy, This Happy Breed. Both provided Coward the type of bravura comic role that he excelled at and he
to read the context for Present Laughter and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
ACT ONE
Daphne Stillington blissfully wakes up in the spare room of Garry Essendine’s London flat. Garry is a famous stage actor, adored by the public for his talent, good looks, and charm--adored by Daphne especially. She met Garry the previous evening at a party; when the night was supposed to come to an end, she serendipitously “forgot” her latchkey. Unable to enter her home, Garry graciously offered her his spare room, she nervously explains to Garry’s maid, Miss Erikson, who seems
to read the plot for Present Laughter and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
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Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A male or female person who performs a role in a play, work of theatre, or movie.
A type of comedy that uses exaggeration, often with clowning and ridiculous behaviors, in order to entertain.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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