Mr. Preedy and the Countess (A Farce in Three Acts), by R. C. Carton (Author), Samual French (Creator), and produced at the Criterion Theatre, London, on May 8th 1909

Scenes from Mr. Preedy and the Countess (A Farce in Three Acts), by R. C. Carton (Author), Samual French (Creator), and produced at the Criterion Theatre, London, on May 8th 1909.

The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News,May 8th 1909, "Mr. Preedy and the Countess," by R. C. Carton, at the Criterion Theatre. 

           a- Mr. Preedy's manservant (Mr. Frederick Volpe), interupts a proposal of

                Marriage by his Master (Mr. Weedon Grossmith) to Emma Sidgrave 

               (Miss Shelley Calton), to his Master's great Annoyance.

           b- Mr. Preedy's manservant (Mr. Volpe) and his future Father-in-Law 

                (Mr. Lytton Grey) are discovered by Mr. Preedy endeavouring to burst

                open the door of his bedroom, in which the Countess, who had been

                foisted on the harmless bachelor over night, is still Sleeping.

            c- The gentle Mr. Preedy, at last aroused to retaliation, insists that his

                senior partner (Mr. Fred Lewis) shall stay and face the Countess he is deserting. 

            d- Miss Shelley Calton as Mr. Preedy's fiancee, Emma Sidgrave.

            e- Mr. Preedy entertaining the Countess (Miss Compton), who has been 

                unceremoniously left at his rooms late at night. The Countess's 

                presence causes the meek little host to be branded as a profligate 

                and to suffer countless other worries.

Present Laughter was written by the English playwright Noël Coward (1899 – 1973), and performed at the Plymouth Theatre, in 1947.

A scene from  Present Laughter was written by the English playwright Noël Coward (1899 – 1973), and performed at the Plymouth Theatre, in 1947.

The Rat Trap, written by Noël Coward (1899-1973), and first performed at the Everyman Theatre, London, on 18 October 1926,

Scenes from The Rat Trap, written by the English dramatist Noël Coward (1899-1973), and first performed at the Everyman Theatre, London,  on 18 October 1926, running for 12 performances, presented by George Carr (who also directed), Raymond Massey (who also played a supporting role), and Allan Wade.

Original production, 1926, from left: Sheila and Keld, Olive, Naomi and Edmund

1926. Actor Robert Harris in Noel Coward's production of `The Rat Trap', at the Everyman Theatre, London.

Private Lives, written Noël Coward (1899 - 1973), produced by C. B. Cochran, at the Times Square Theatre, New York City, from January 27 to September 1, 1931, running for 256 performances.

   Scenes from Private Lives (a play in three acts, 1929), written by the English playwright Noël Coward  (1899 - 1973), produced by C. B. Cochran, at the Times Square Theatre, New York City, from January 27 to  September 1, 1931, running for 256 performances.

   The first Broadway production opened at the Times Square Theatre on 27 January 1931 with Coward, Lawrence and Olivier reprising their roles and Jill Esmond, who had married Olivier a few months earlier, as Sibyl. Walter Winchell described the production as "something to go quite silly over." The New York critics were enthusiastic about the play and Coward's performance.

Noël Coward and Gertrude Lawrence in the Broadway production of Private Lives (1931)

Gertrude Lawrence and Noel Coward hamming it up at the piano in a scene from the play, "Private Lives." 1931

Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence in a scene from 'Private Lives', New York, USA, 1931. 

Further information about Private_Lives

Private Lives (1929), written by Noël Coward (1899 - 1973), produced by C. B. Cochran, and premiered on 18 August 1930, at the King's Theatre in Edinburgh, directed by Coward

Scenes from Private Lives (1929), written by the English playwright Noël Coward  (1899 - 1973), produced by C. B. Cochran, and premiered on 18 August 1930, at the King's Theatre in Edinburgh, directed by Coward and starring Coward as Elyot, Gertrude Lawrence as Amanda, Laurence Olivier as Victor and Adrianne Allen as Sibyl. Sets and costumes were designed by Gladys Calthrop.

Laurence Olivier, Adrianne Allen, Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence in 'Private Lives' at the Phoenix Theatre, London. 

Gertrude Lawrence, Noel Coward, Laurence Olivier and Adrianne Allen in 'Private Lives' at the Phoenix Theatre

12th September 1930: Adrianne Allen, Noel Coward, Gertrude Lawrence, and Laurence Olivier in 'Private Lives' at the Phoenix Theatre, London.

Gertrude Lawrence (1898 - 1952) and Noel Coward (1899 - 1973) in 'Private Lives' at the Phoenix Theatre, London, 12th September 1930.

Gertrude Lawrence and Noel Coward in 'Private Lives' at the Phoenix Theatre, London, 12th September 1930.

Gertrude Lawrence and Noel Coward  in 'Private Lives' at the Phoenix Theatre, London, 12th September 1930.

Gertrude Lawrence and Noel Coward in 'Private Lives' at the Phoenix Theatre, London, 12th September 1930.

12th September 1930: British actors Laurence Olivier and Adrianne Allen in 'Private Lives' at the Phoenix Theatre, London.

British actors Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence, starring in "Private Lives", featured on the cover of "The Play Pictorial", published in London on 1st November 1930. 

The Mask And The Face (A Comedy), written by W. Somerset Maugham and produced by the Theatre Guild at the Guild Theatre, New York City, from May 8 to June 1933, having run for 40 performances.

A scene from The Mask And The Face (A Comedy), written by the British playwright W. Somerset Maugham (Translated from the Italian of Luigi Chiarelli). and produced by the Theatre Guild at the Guild Theatre, New York City, from May 8 to June 1933, having run for 40 performances.

It starred Shirley Booth, Leo G. Carroll, Dorothy Patten, Ernest Cossart, Judith Anderson, Stanley Ridges, Humphrey Bogart, etc. Directed by Philip Moeller, with the production staff:  Produced by The Theatre Guild, Staged by Philip Moeller, and Scenic Design by Lee Simonson.

HUMPHREY BOGART as Luciano Spina JUDITH ANDERSON as Savina Gracia THE MASK AND THE FACE 1933 Broadway Comedy

The Bread-Winner (a one-act comedy, 1930) written by W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965), and first produced by Athole Stewart at the Vaudeville Theatre, London, on 30 September 1930

   The Bread-Winner (a one-act comedy, 1930) written by the British playwright W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965), and first produced by Athole Stewart at the Vaudeville Theatre, London, on 30 September 1930, starring Ronald Squire and Peggy Ashcroft played Charles and Judy Battle.

   The Bread-Winner is a one-act comedy play written by British author W. Somerset Maugham,  at the age of fifty-six, in 1930, centering on a middle-aged stockbroker's rebellion against his conventional family life amid the economic fallout of the 1929 stock market crash. The work premiered at London's Vaudeville Theatre on 30 September 1930 before transferring to Broadway's Booth Theatre on September 22, 1931, where it ran for 55 performances until November 7.