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Present Laughter

Present Laughter

by Noël Coward

Comedy
Medium Cast (9-13)

Now Playing at a Theatre Near You

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Present Laughter

About the Play

Present Laughter

POLLDADDY SCRIPT FOR RATING



Noël Coward's richly comic play about world-weary dilettante Garry Essendine.


Story:

At the centre of his own universe sits matinee idol Garry Essendine: suave, hedonistic and too old, says his wife, to be having numerous affairs. His line in harmless, infatuated debutantes is largely tolerated but playing closer to home is not. Just before he escapes on tour to Africa the full extent of his misdemeanours is discovered. And all hell breaks loose.


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Fun Fact

Coward acknowledged that the central character, the egocentric actor Garry Essendine, was a self-caricature.
Coward, the Playwright by John Lahr

Cast and Creative Team

Playwright

Playwright
Noël Coward



Broadway Premiere

Theatre
Plymouth Theatre
Opening Night
Oct 29, 1946
Total Performances
158
Original Cast
Clifton Webb, Cris Alexander, Robin Craven, Doris Dalton, Leonore Harris, Marta Linden, Gordon Mills, Grace Mills, Jan Sterling, Aidan Turner, Evelyn Varden
Director
John C. Wilson
Producer
John C. Wilson
Scenic Design
Donald Oenslager
Costume Design
Castillo and Sylvia Saal

1958 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Belasco Theatre
Opening Night
Jan 31, 1958
Total Performances
6
Original Cast
Noël Coward, Eva Gabor, John Ainsworth, Joyce Carey, Avril Gentles, Therese Quadri, Winston Ross, Angela Thornton, Robert Thurston, William Traylor, Mona Washbourne
Director
Noël Coward
Producer
The Playwrights' Company, Lance Hamilton and Charles Russell
Scenic Design
Oliver Smith
Costume Design
Frank Thompson
Lighting Design
Peggy Clark

1982 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Circle in the Square Theatre
Opening Night
Jul 15, 1982
Total Performances
179
Original Cast
George C. Scott, Kate Burton, Edward Conery, Georgine Hall, Bette Henritze, Elizabeth Hubbard, Dana Ivey, Christine Lahti, Nathan Lane, Jim Piddock, Richard Woods
Director
George C. Scott
Producer
Circle in the Square
Scenic Design
Marjorie Bradley Kellogg
Costume Design
Ann Roth
Lighting Design
Richard Nelson
Hair Design
Lyn Quiyou

1996 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Walter Kerr Theatre
Opening Night
Nov 18, 1996
Total Performances
175
Original Cast
Frank Langella, David Cale, Lisa Emery, Tim Hopper, Allison Janney, Kellie Overbey, Judith Roberts, Steve Ross, Caroline Seymour, Margaret Sophie Stein, Jeff Weiss
Director
Scott Elliott
Producer
David Richenthal and Anita Waxman
Scenic Design
Derek McLane
Costume Design
Ann Roth
Lighting Design
Brian MacDevitt
Sound Design
Raymond D. Schilke

2010 Broadway Revival

Theatre
American Airlines Theatre
Opening Night
Jan 21, 2010
Total Performances
69
Original Cast
Victor Garber, Brooks Ashmanskas, Lisa Banes, Nancy E. Carroll, Alice Duffy, Holley Fain, Pamela Jane Gray, Harriet Harris, James Joseph O'Neil, Richard Poe, Mark Vietor
Director
Nicholas Martin
Producer
Roundabout Theatre Company
Scenic Design
Alexander Dodge
Costume Design
Jane Greenwood
Lighting Design
Rui Rita
Sound Design
Drew Levy
Hair and Wig Design
Tom Watson

2017 Broadway Revival

Theatre
St. James Theatre
Opening Night
Apr 5, 2017
Total Performances
101
Original Cast
Kevin Kline, Kate Burton, Kristine Nielsen, Cobie Smulders, Matt Bittner, Ellen Harvey, Peter Francis James, Tedra Millan, Bhavesh Patel, Reg Rogers, Sandra Shipley
Director
Moritz von Stuelpnagel
Producer
Jordan Roth, Jujamcyn Theaters, Spencer Ross, Bruce Robert Harris and Jack W. Batman, AC Orange Entertainment LTD, Grove Entertainment, Stephanie P. McClelland, Eric Falkenstein, Harbor Entertainment, Joe Everett Michaels/Robert F. Ryan and Daryl Roth
Scenic Design
David Zinn
Costume Design
Susan Hilferty
Lighting Design
Justin Townsend
Sound Design
Fitz Patton
Hair Design
Josh Marquette

YEAR Film Version

Movie Name
Present Laughter
Type
Hollywood Feature Film, Made for TV Movie, Filmed Live on Stage, Live Play Telecast, TV Mini-Series
Director
Screenplay
Starring

YEAR Film Version

Movie Name
Present Laughter
Type
Hollywood Feature Film, Made for TV Movie, Filmed Live on Stage, Live Play Telecast, TV Mini-Series
Director
Screenplay
Starring

Scripts, Videos, Merchandise and More



Stream Online Now

Streaming
2017 Filmed Live on Stage Version Available to Stream via BroadwayHD




Books

Script
Play Script

Audiobook

Audiobook
Audiobook Read By LATW

Videos

DVD
The Noel Coward Collection DVD

Merchandise

Merchandise
Merchandise on Ebay



Awards and Reviews

2017 Tony Award Nominations

Best Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role In A Play - Kevin Kline
Best Revival Of A Play
Best Costume Design Of A Play

2017 Drama Desk Award Nominations

Outstanding Actor In A Play - Kevin Kline
Outstanding Costume Design For A Play
Outstanding Wig And Hair

2017 Theatre World Award Nominations

Cobie Smulders

2010 Tony Award Nominations

Best Scenic Design Of A Play

1997 Tony Award Nominations

Best Revival Of A Play

1997 Drama Desk Award Nominations

Outstanding Revival Of A Play
Outstanding Actor In A Play - Frank Langella
Outstanding Featured Actress In A Play - Allison Janney
Outstanding Set Design Of A Play
Outstanding Costume Design

1997 Theatre World Award Nominations

Allison Janney

1983 Drama Desk Award Nominations

Outstanding Featured Actor In A Play - Nathan Lane
Outstanding Featured Actress In A Play - Dana Ivey
Outstanding Director Of A Play
Outstanding Set Design
Outstanding Revival

1983 Theatre World Award Nominations

Kate Burton

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