Book Review: Present Laughter
Morris: I'll never speak to you again until the day I die!
Gary: Well, we can have a nice little chat then, can't we?
I have wanted to read this play ever since reels of Andrew Scott playing the lead character in a production at the National Theatre, graced my Instagram. It was near constant and I was curious. He seemed to play an overly pampered childish actor incredibly well - do you think he drew from real life? (Kidding) but since then, I have been excited to read this play. Sure, its comedy of a different time, but considering the crowds at the National were chuckling away in those videos, humour doesn't grow old.
Present Laughter, by Noël Coward, is about a self-obsessed, overly dramatic comedy actor called Garry Essendine. He is bordering on a mid-life crisis, surrounded by long-suffering friends, servants and a wife while preparing to travel to Africa. The play leans towards a farce in terms of its structure, with Garry trying to avoid an avid admirer who wants him to read an awful play and young women intent on seducing him - including his best friend’s wife. It is all very silly.
If I think in terms of structure, it is a farce - but only in places. The first act builds up to it with a series of jokes that play on Garry's self-obsession, which is his ultimate hubris. He likes those who admire him but is equally repulsed by them. That leads to the ‘French farce’ of a second and third act. In terms of characterisation, Garry is an idiot, let's be honest: he tortures his companions with his dramatics day in and day out with the flair of a toddler being told no in the candy store. The characters who show the most strength and resolve are the women, whether it is to try and seduce Garry or it is his wife stepping and getting Garry out of the hole he has managed to dig himself into. Women are seen as marvellous creatures in this play - Noël Coward knew how to write his women (at least in this play, I could be wrong here)
In terms of the plot, it is fun and light-hearted, and you don’t need to think too hard about it. This play was produced in 1939 but was not put on the stage until 1942 due to the outbreak of the war, but with war comes the need for joy and laughter in the darkest of times. It is a non-serious, non-political play made to make the masses laugh, and it does just that. It is probably why it is still a joy for producers and theatres to put on.