Present Laughter

Summary

1964 Granada production for ITV of Present Laughter by Noël Coward, presented in the four-play series A Choice of Coward.

Theatre play

Present Laughter by Noël Coward (1899-1973) [more information]

Play synopsis

'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).' Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Present_Laughter.

Production history

First staged in 1942.

Date of transmission

Monday 10 August 1964

Time

9.10-10.30pm

Series

Choice of Coward

Channel

ITV

Production company

Granada Television (1956-)

Credits

Director

Joan Kemp-Welch (1906-1999)

Playwright

Noël Coward (1899-1973)

Adapted for Television by

Peter Wildeblood

Designer

Peter Phillips

Cast

Edwin Apps	Henry Lyppiatt
Joan Benham	Monica Reed
James Bolam	Roland Maule
Jane Eccles	Lady Saltburn
Ursula Howells	Liz Essendine
Jennie Linden	Daphne Stillington
Barbara Murray	Joanna Lyppiatt
Ruth Porcher	Miss Erikson
Danvers Walker	Morris Dixon
Peter Wyngarde	Garry Essendine

Additional details

Play tags

comedy; theatre or acting, as theme

Audiovisual sources

Title

A Choice of Coward: Present Laughter, Blithe Spirit, The Vortex, Design for Living

Notes

Published by Network in 2010

Print sources

Title

TV Times, 21 August 1964 (Magazine)

Linking notes

two letters to the editor, p. 17

Title

TV Times, 7 August 1964 (Magazine)

Linking notes

cover image; article, pp. 4-5; listing, p. 21