Product Description

The first single edition of Noel Coward's most controversial play."Only in Semi-Monde does Coward find a successful metaphor for the sexual complications that lie behind his posturing. Semi-Monde is easily the most visually daring of his comedies, and the most intellectually startling made up of sexually mischievous tableaux vivants and gets much nearer the homosexual knuckle than Coward's public image allowed." - (John Lahr, London Review of Books)Written in 1926 and originally entitled Ritz Bar, Semi-Monde was considered too daring for its time: "its production in London or New York seemed unlikely as some of the characters, owing to lightly suggested abnormalities, would certainly be deleted by the censor" (Noel Coward, Present Indicative). The play finally received its public premiere only after Coward's death, at the Citizen's Theatre, Glasgow, in September 1977.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2512340 in Books
• Published on: 2003-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 91 pages

Review
"'Only in Semi-Monde does Coward find a successful metaphor for the sexual complications that lie behind his posturing. Semi-Monde is easily the most visually daring of his comedies, and the most intellectually startling... Semi-Monde is made up of sexually mischievous tableaux vivants and gets much nearer the homosexual knuckle than Coward's public image allowed.' John Lahr, London Review of Books"

About the Author
Noel Coward (1899-1973) was not only an important British playwright and lyricist but he also wrote fiction, three volumes of autobiography, and numerous reflections in other genres which number well over 100 different works. He was also a distinguished actor and cabaret performer. He was easily one of this century's greatest wits.