Knowledge

The Better Half (play)

Source 📝

102:
David enters. Alice tries to provoke him by saying that she has been unfaithful to him, but he forgives her. She finally manages to enrage him by mocking his high-mindedness as a pose. The ensuing confrontation is halted by Marion's return. Alice then announces that since David and Marion have a similar outlook and are obviously made for each other, she is quite ready to relinquish him. To satisfy the divorce laws, she will take a lover and "live in flaming sin" at a de luxe hotel. She goes out, leaving the other two nonplussed. David tells Marion, "We should all try to make ourselves see things from every point of view".
22: 101:
Alice has fallen out of love with her high-minded but bloodless husband, David. She discusses him with her friend Marion. It emerges that Marion finds him extremely attractive but her attempt to seduce him was unsuccessful. She leaves angrily when Alice declares that he is in love only with himself.
92:
In spite of this, it was received with apathy; I think, possibly, because it was a satire and too flippant in atmosphere after the full-blooded horrors that had gone before it. Nevertheless, it was quite well written and served the purpose, if only for a little, of keeping my name before the
115:
judged the piece "exceedingly well written, but too literary". The text was not published and was thought to be lost until Richard Hand and Mike Wilson, researching for a book about Grand Guignol, discovered the script in the
322: 1061: 1045: 315: 255: 1053: 874: 1013: 121: 1112: 308: 805: 66: 567: 436: 786: 727: 484: 355: 848: 986: 898: 832: 770: 623: 371: 347: 1021: 938: 930: 906: 687: 468: 1037: 978: 890: 762: 695: 511: 428: 1117: 1080: 970: 946: 460: 387: 1005: 1029: 914: 148: 679: 551: 131:, London, in a production that opened on 16 October 2007. An adaptation of the play was broadcast on 136: 1107: 962: 813: 735: 476: 294: 83: 29: 559: 444: 363: 288: 882: 840: 754: 639: 270: 251: 65:
The play was given as the final item of a quintuple bill of mixed comedy and melodrama at the
21: 719: 711: 703: 671: 663: 631: 607: 543: 954: 922: 778: 655: 409: 247: 117: 54: 591: 583: 527: 332: 46: 1101: 647: 615: 599: 503: 452: 379: 50: 42: 401: 144: 140: 132: 213: 575: 535: 74: 25: 274: 128: 127:
The Sticking Place theatre company revived the play at the Union Theatre in
111: 49:
first performed in 1922 by the Grand Guignol theatre company, directed by
89:
Coward recalled that the piece "was wittily played by Auriol Lee", but:
300: 225: 53:. It was thought to be lost until the original script was found in the 20: 304: 120:
in September 2007, where it had been deposited as part of the
295:
Coward's long-lost satire was almost too 'daring' about women
250:(2000 edition, ed.) (second ed.). London: Oberon Books. 269:(fifth ed.). London: Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons. 1072: 997: 866: 859: 824: 797: 746: 495: 420: 339: 69:, London on 31 May 1922, with the following cast: 316: 8: 863: 323: 309: 301: 242:Mander, Raymond; Joe Mitchenson (2000) . 160: 228:, BBC Genome. Retrieved 6 August 2021 209: 207: 7: 214:"'Lost' Noel Coward play recovered" 14: 188:Mander and Mitchenson, pp. 62–63 179:in Mander and Mitchenson, p. 65 814:Pretty Polly and Other Stories 244:Theatrical Companion to Coward 226:"Noel Coward: The Better Half" 216:, BBC. Retrieved 6 August 2021 1: 875:The Queen Was in the Parlour 568:The Queen Was in the Parlour 485:The Girl Who Came to Supper 1134: 395:Noël Coward's Sweet Potato 265:Parker, John, ed. (1925). 135:on 25 May 2009, starring 267:Who's Who in the Theatre 122:Lord Chamberlain's Plays 16:1922 play by Noël Coward 849:The Noël Coward Diaries 33: 806:Pomp and Circumstance 79:Marion – Ivy Williams 24: 1113:Plays by Noël Coward 1046:Waiting in the Wings 787:The Astonished Heart 728:Waiting in the Wings 512:I'll Leave It to You 201:, 8 June 1922, p. 14 32:in the 1922 premiere 736:Suite in Three Keys 197:"London Theatres", 61:Original production 833:Present Indicative 437:Conversation Piece 364:This Year of Grace 147:, and directed by 34: 1095: 1094: 1091: 1090: 931:Design for Living 841:Future Indefinite 755:In Which We Serve 688:Peace in Our Time 640:Design for Living 356:On with the Dance 257:978-1-84002-054-0 1125: 1062:Look After Lulu! 1054:Present Laughter 1038:Nude with Violin 1022:South Sea Bubble 864: 763:This Happy Breed 720:Look After Lulu! 712:Nude with Violin 696:South Sea Bubble 672:This Happy Breed 664:Present Laughter 325: 318: 311: 302: 278: 261: 246:. Barry Day and 229: 223: 217: 211: 202: 195: 189: 186: 180: 174: 168: 167:Parker, p. xxxiv 165: 28:and (in mirror) 1133: 1132: 1128: 1127: 1126: 1124: 1123: 1122: 1098: 1097: 1096: 1087: 1068: 993: 971:Relative Values 955:Meet Me Tonight 947:We Were Dancing 923:Tonight Is Ours 855: 820: 793: 779:Brief Encounter 742: 656:Tonight at 8.30 520:The Better Half 491: 416: 410:Cowardy Custard 372:Words and Music 348:London Calling! 335: 329: 285: 264: 258: 248:Sheridan Morley 241: 238: 233: 232: 224: 220: 212: 205: 196: 192: 187: 183: 175: 171: 166: 162: 157: 118:British Library 108: 99: 94: 63: 55:British Library 38:The Better Half 17: 12: 11: 5: 1131: 1129: 1121: 1120: 1115: 1110: 1100: 1099: 1093: 1092: 1089: 1088: 1086: 1085: 1076: 1074: 1070: 1069: 1067: 1066: 1058: 1050: 1042: 1034: 1026: 1018: 1010: 1001: 999: 995: 994: 992: 991: 983: 975: 967: 959: 951: 943: 935: 927: 919: 911: 903: 895: 887: 879: 870: 868: 861: 857: 856: 854: 853: 845: 837: 828: 826: 822: 821: 819: 818: 810: 801: 799: 795: 794: 792: 791: 783: 775: 767: 759: 750: 748: 744: 743: 741: 740: 732: 724: 716: 708: 700: 692: 684: 676: 668: 660: 652: 644: 636: 628: 620: 612: 604: 596: 588: 584:This Was a Man 580: 572: 564: 556: 548: 540: 532: 528:The Young Idea 524: 516: 508: 499: 497: 493: 492: 490: 489: 481: 473: 469:After the Ball 465: 457: 449: 441: 433: 424: 422: 418: 417: 415: 414: 406: 398: 392: 384: 376: 368: 360: 352: 343: 341: 337: 336: 330: 328: 327: 320: 313: 305: 299: 298: 297:- The Guardian 292: 291:- Woman's Hour 289:Coward's Women 284: 283:External links 281: 280: 279: 262: 256: 237: 234: 231: 230: 218: 203: 190: 181: 169: 159: 158: 156: 153: 137:Federay Holmes 107: 104: 98: 95: 91: 87: 86: 82:The Husband – 80: 77: 67:Little Theatre 62: 59: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1130: 1119: 1118:One-act plays 1116: 1114: 1111: 1109: 1106: 1105: 1103: 1083: 1082: 1078: 1077: 1075: 1071: 1064: 1063: 1059: 1056: 1055: 1051: 1048: 1047: 1043: 1040: 1039: 1035: 1032: 1031: 1027: 1024: 1023: 1019: 1016: 1015: 1014:Blithe Spirit 1011: 1008: 1007: 1003: 1002: 1000: 996: 989: 988: 987:Blithe Spirit 984: 981: 980: 976: 973: 972: 968: 965: 964: 960: 957: 956: 952: 949: 948: 944: 941: 940: 936: 933: 932: 928: 925: 924: 920: 917: 916: 912: 909: 908: 904: 901: 900: 899:Private Lives 896: 893: 892: 888: 885: 884: 880: 877: 876: 872: 871: 869: 865: 862: 858: 851: 850: 846: 843: 842: 838: 835: 834: 830: 829: 827: 823: 816: 815: 811: 808: 807: 803: 802: 800: 796: 789: 788: 784: 781: 780: 776: 773: 772: 771:Blithe Spirit 768: 765: 764: 760: 757: 756: 752: 751: 749: 745: 738: 737: 733: 730: 729: 725: 722: 721: 717: 714: 713: 709: 706: 705: 701: 698: 697: 693: 690: 689: 685: 682: 681: 680:Blithe Spirit 677: 674: 673: 669: 666: 665: 661: 658: 657: 653: 650: 649: 648:Point Valaine 645: 642: 641: 637: 634: 633: 629: 626: 625: 621: 618: 617: 616:Private Lives 613: 610: 609: 605: 602: 601: 597: 594: 593: 589: 586: 585: 581: 578: 577: 573: 570: 569: 565: 562: 561: 557: 554: 553: 552:Fallen Angels 549: 546: 545: 541: 538: 537: 533: 530: 529: 525: 522: 521: 517: 514: 513: 509: 506: 505: 501: 500: 498: 494: 487: 486: 482: 479: 478: 474: 471: 470: 466: 463: 462: 458: 455: 454: 450: 447: 446: 442: 439: 438: 434: 431: 430: 426: 425: 423: 419: 412: 411: 407: 404: 403: 399: 396: 393: 390: 389: 385: 382: 381: 377: 374: 373: 369: 366: 365: 361: 358: 357: 353: 350: 349: 345: 344: 342: 338: 334: 326: 321: 319: 314: 312: 307: 306: 303: 296: 293: 290: 287: 286: 282: 276: 272: 268: 263: 259: 253: 249: 245: 240: 239: 235: 227: 222: 219: 215: 210: 208: 204: 200: 194: 191: 185: 182: 178: 173: 170: 164: 161: 154: 152: 150: 149:Martin Jarvis 146: 142: 138: 134: 130: 125: 123: 119: 114: 113: 105: 103: 96: 90: 85: 81: 78: 76: 72: 71: 70: 68: 60: 58: 56: 52: 48: 44: 40: 39: 31: 27: 23: 19: 1081:High Spirits 1079: 1060: 1052: 1044: 1036: 1028: 1020: 1012: 1004: 985: 977: 969: 963:Pretty Polly 961: 953: 945: 939:Bitter Sweet 937: 929: 921: 913: 907:Bitter Sweet 905: 897: 889: 881: 873: 847: 839: 831: 812: 804: 785: 777: 769: 761: 753: 734: 726: 718: 710: 702: 694: 686: 678: 670: 662: 654: 646: 638: 630: 622: 614: 606: 600:The Marquise 598: 590: 582: 574: 566: 558: 550: 542: 534: 526: 519: 518: 510: 504:The Rat Trap 502: 483: 475: 467: 461:Ace of Clubs 459: 453:Pacific 1860 451: 443: 435: 429:Bitter Sweet 427: 408: 400: 394: 388:Sigh No More 386: 380:Set to Music 378: 370: 362: 354: 346: 266: 243: 221: 198: 193: 184: 176: 172: 163: 126: 124:collection. 110: 109: 100: 88: 64: 51:Lewis Casson 43:one-act play 37: 36: 35: 18: 1030:Red Peppers 979:Easy Virtue 891:Easy Virtue 860:Adaptations 624:Post-Mortem 560:Easy Virtue 402:Oh, Coward! 333:Noël Coward 145:Lisa Dillon 141:Samuel West 133:BBC Radio 4 84:Ian Fleming 47:Noël Coward 30:Ian Fleming 1108:1922 plays 1102:Categories 883:The Vortex 576:Semi-Monde 536:The Vortex 155:References 75:Auriol Lee 26:Auriol Lee 1006:Cavalcade 915:Cavalcade 704:Quadrille 632:Cavalcade 608:Home Chat 544:Hay Fever 477:Sail Away 331:Works by 199:The Stage 129:Southwark 112:The Stage 57:in 2007. 445:Operette 421:Musicals 275:10013159 93:public." 73:Alice – 1073:Musical 825:Memoirs 592:Sirocco 236:Sources 106:History 1084:(1964) 1065:(1967) 1057:(1967) 1049:(1965) 1041:(1964) 1033:(1962) 1025:(1956) 1017:(1956) 1009:(1955) 990:(2020) 982:(2008) 974:(2000) 966:(1967) 958:(1952) 950:(1942) 942:(1940) 934:(1933) 926:(1933) 918:(1933) 910:(1933) 902:(1930) 894:(1928) 886:(1928) 878:(1927) 852:(1982) 844:(1954) 836:(1937) 817:(1964) 809:(1960) 790:(1950) 782:(1945) 774:(1945) 766:(1944) 758:(1942) 739:(1966) 731:(1960) 723:(1959) 715:(1956) 707:(1952) 699:(1951) 691:(1946) 683:(1941) 675:(1939) 667:(1939) 659:(1936) 651:(1934) 643:(1932) 635:(1931) 627:(1930) 619:(1930) 611:(1927) 603:(1927) 595:(1927) 587:(1926) 579:(1926) 571:(1926) 563:(1925) 555:(1925) 547:(1925) 539:(1924) 531:(1923) 523:(1922) 515:(1920) 507:(1918) 488:(1963) 480:(1961) 472:(1954) 464:(1950) 456:(1946) 448:(1938) 440:(1934) 432:(1929) 413:(1972) 405:(1972) 397:(1968) 391:(1945) 383:(1939) 375:(1932) 367:(1928) 359:(1925) 351:(1923) 340:Revues 273:  254:  177:Quoted 867:Films 798:Prose 747:Films 496:Plays 41:is a 271:OCLC 252:ISBN 143:and 97:Plot 45:by 1104:: 998:TV 206:^ 151:. 139:, 324:e 317:t 310:v 277:. 260:.

Index

Magazine caricature with a young woman at her dressing-table and her genial husband reflected in her mirror
Auriol Lee
Ian Fleming
one-act play
Noël Coward
Lewis Casson
British Library
Little Theatre
Auriol Lee
Ian Fleming
The Stage
British Library
Lord Chamberlain's Plays
Southwark
BBC Radio 4
Federay Holmes
Samuel West
Lisa Dillon
Martin Jarvis


"'Lost' Noel Coward play recovered"
"Noel Coward: The Better Half"
Sheridan Morley
ISBN
978-1-84002-054-0
OCLC
10013159
Coward's Women
Coward's long-lost satire was almost too 'daring' about women

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.