Six phenomenally sophisticated Noël Coward comedies:
Fallen Angels:
Julia and Fred and Willy and Jane are happily married and the best of
friends until a postcard arrives with news of the imminent arrival of a
certain handsome Frenchman—gay, debonair, and utterly sophisticated. This is performed by Annette Bening and others.
Hay Fever: A country
house weekend goes haywire when the guests and their hosts play a game
of romantic musical chairs. This is performed by Eric Stoltz and others.
Private Lives:
On the French Riviera, the lights of a yacht are reflected in the water
and in the eyes of four hilariously mismatched lovers. Perhaps Coward’s
greatest comedy, Private Lives shimmers with romance, desire, and bittersweet truth. This is performed by Rosalind Ayres and others.
Design for Living:
Three terminally stylish friends attempt to uncoil their twisted love
triangle in this sexy and scandalous gem. Written in 1932, the play was
deemed extremely daring. Here it is performed by Michelle Arthur and others.
Present Laughter:
Stage star Garry Essendine struggles to plan his trip to Africa while
his flat is invaded by a love struck ingénue, an adulterous producer, a
married seductress, Garry’s estranged wife Liz, and an aspiring
playwright who is quite, quite mad. This is performed by Ian Oglivy, Yeardley
Smith, and others.
Blithe Spirit: A convivial evening party
among friends is transformed when a séance conjures the ghost of Elvira,
the host’s first wife, who delights in wreaking havoc among the living. This is performed by Rosalind Ayres, Ian Ogilvy, and others.
Exclusive bonus material: Two rarely-performed shorts by Noël Coward, Design for Rehearsing and Age Cannot Wither, as well as conversations on Coward with Barry Day (Noel Coward Foundation) and John Lahr (New Yorker).
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