A SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. TITLE

Design for Living

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  4w, 6m

"Coward's cleverest play...Coward's technique has never been more dizzy or more deft." - The New York Times

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 6m

Details

Summary
In this classic menage a trois by a master of the sophisticated, Gilda and Otto are living a bohemian lifestyle, she as a dilletante, he as a painter. A visit by Leo, Otto's old friend and a successful playwright leads to an affair between he and Gilda leaving Otto so disconsolate, goes off on a tramp steamer. Subsequently living in London with Leo, Gilda is visited by Otto, now a successful and sought-after artist. He spends the night. Just as abruptly, Gilda then goes off with Ernest, a stuffy English art dealer. The following year, now married to Ernest, Gilda has become a successful decorator in New York. Her seemingly complacent life is disrupted by the return of both Otto and Leo, who have come to take her back with them. Again bored with convention, she willingly leaves.

Media

"Coward's cleverest play...Coward's technique has never been more dizzy or more deft." - The New York Times

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £70 per performance plus VAT when applicable.
    This title may have restrictions in place for London based productions. Please submit a licence request to confirm specific availability.

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Authors

Noël Coward

Noël Peirce Coward was born in 1899 and made his professional stage debut as Prince Mussel in The Goldfish at the age of 12, leading to many child actor appearances over the next few years. His breakthrough in playwriting was the controversial The Vortex (1924), which feature ...

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