Present Laughter
Noël Coward
The play is a semi-autobiographical comedy centering on Garry Essendine, a charismatic and aging matinee idol. As he prepares for a touring production in Africa, his life is a whirlwind of obsessive fans, secret affairs, and a loyal firm of friends and employees who manage his ego. Garry’s struggle to maintain his public persona while dealing with a mid-life crisis provides the comedy’s engine. It is a witty, stylish look at the price of fame and the blurred lines between an actor’s public image and their private reality, often regarded as Coward’s valentine to the theater and himself.
Garry Essendine: A flamboyant, narcissistic, and deeply charming stage star who must navigate a chaotic week of romantic entanglements and professional pressures before leaving London. Liz Essendine: Garry’s estranged but loyal wife and business partner, who remains the calm, sensible center of his life and the only person who truly understands him. Monica Reed: Garry’s dry-witted and efficient secretary who handles his tantrums and various admirers with a mixture of professional stoicism and affectionate, long-suffering irony.
First Performance: 1942, at Haymarket Theatre, London
Major success; Coward himself starred in the premiere, cementing the character of Garry as his quintessential stage persona.
Original Actors: Noël Coward, Joyce Carey