Scarce with the wrapper

Coward, Noel ~ Present Laughter : A Light Comedy In Three Acts

First UK Printing : William Heinemann Ltd., London : 1943

The First UK Printing published by William Heinemann Ltd., London in 1943. 8vo., purple cloth, backstrip lettered in gilt; in the scarce publisher’s wrapper (clipped) printed in black and yellow, with wartime advertisement for BBC radio’s ‘Britain Calls the World’ to the front flap’, and list of other Coward plays to the lower panel; THE BOOK is in Very Good++ condition, text evenly toned with some offsetting to the front free endpaper and half title; very slightly dulled at backstrip with light rubbing and sunning at spine tips; the scarce WRAPPER is price-clipped and also in Very Good+ condition, with minimal shelf-wear and markings, slight creased to folds with small losses at edges, corners and more so to the spine tips (up to 0.5cm in depth, not affecting text), one 1.5cm closed tear along spine and some minor splitting to the front flap fold. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. Originally written in 1939, Present Laughter was in the process of rehearsals when WWII broke out. Consequently, it was not performed on stage until 1942. The plot follows a successful and egotistical protagonist, Gary Essendine, as he prepares for a role in South Africa. Along the way, he must deal with a mid-life crisis, women who attempt to seduce him, and many other farcical scenarios. Semi-autobiographical, Coward played himself in the first few performances, and later claimed that once he sat down to write it, he had completed all three acts within a mere six days. The play was "a very light comedy” he wrote, “written with the sensible object of providing me with a bravura part". The play was most recently performed at the Old Vic in 2019, with Andrew Scott in the leading role. A cheap wartime production and very scarce with the wrapper in such collectible condition.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Very Good++
JACKET: Very Good+