{"product_id":"9781350246065-noel-coward","title":"Noël Coward","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Playwright’s Craft in a Changing Theatre\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is the first book-length work to draw extensively on unpublished archive material to document the composition and reception of some of Noël Coward's most significant plays. It examines his working practices as a playwright, from manuscript to performance. This study argues that, while he did not embrace any of the more radical theatrical ‘isms’ of his time, Coward experimented with both form and content. He adapted the familiar ‘well-made’ formulas, while also emphasizing theatrical self-consciousness and an exploration of radical social and sexual relationships.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e After an overview of Coward’s career and the reception of his plays, the work discusses selected texts from successive phases of Coward’s career, including some unproduced or uncompleted work and perennially popular plays such as \u003ci\u003eThe Vortex\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eHay Fever\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003ePrivate Lives\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eDesign for Living, Blithe Spirit\u003c\/i\u003e and\u003ci\u003e Present Laughter\u003c\/i\u003e. This study also explores how, in the aftermaths of two world wars, as major changes in social and political circumstances suggested new approaches to dramaturgy, Coward's post-1945 work failed to achieve the same success he had enjoyed in earlier periods. The final chapter examines Coward’s approach to his craft in response to the new theatrical and cultural environment, and the new freedom in the treatment of homosexuality represented by \u003ci\u003eSuite in Three Keys\u003c\/i\u003e and his final, uncompleted play, \u003ci\u003eAge Cannot Wither\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55535783379318,"sku":"9781350246065","price":97.84,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/stand_33980221.jpg?v=1746046301","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781350246065-noel-coward","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}