Semi-Monde
Encyclopedia
Semi-Monde is a play written by Noel Coward
in 1926, but not produced until 1977. Set in the lobby, restaurants, and bar of an up-scale Paris
hotel (probably the Hôtel Ritz
), the play follows the lives of a variety of socialites over a three year period from 1924 to 1926. It is remarkable among its contemporaries due to its prominent sexuality
and homosexuality
. This, however, is but the facade of Coward's exploration of the disconnected monotony of the lives of the elite.
The play was first produced in 1977 by the Glasgow Citizen's theatre. The English premiere was produced by the Crescent Theatre
, Birmingham, in 1979. It has been produced only once since, in 2001 by the Lyric Theatre of London. No further professional performances are known of; the only other production recorded was a production by Arts Canterbury in Ottawa
in 2006. In addition, it was also produced as a public performance at the Central School of Speech and Drama, London, between 28 February and 3 March 2007.
that existed in the 1920s. However, in private correspondence, Coward described it as "jagged with sophistication", and sought to have it produced in Germany
. It has been put forward that Semi-Monde is Coward's personal exploration of the high society of which he was a member.
Noël Coward
Sir Noël Peirce Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise".Born in Teddington, a suburb of London, Coward attended a dance academy...
in 1926, but not produced until 1977. Set in the lobby, restaurants, and bar of an up-scale Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
hotel (probably the Hôtel Ritz
Hôtel Ritz Paris
The Hôtel Ritz is a grand palatial hotel in the heart of Paris, the 1st arrondissement. It overlooks the octagonal border of the Place Vendôme at number 15...
), the play follows the lives of a variety of socialites over a three year period from 1924 to 1926. It is remarkable among its contemporaries due to its prominent sexuality
Human sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
and homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. This, however, is but the facade of Coward's exploration of the disconnected monotony of the lives of the elite.
The play was first produced in 1977 by the Glasgow Citizen's theatre. The English premiere was produced by the Crescent Theatre
Crescent Theatre
The Crescent Theatre is a small, amateur theatre run mostly by volunteers, based in Sheepcote Street, Brindleyplace in Birmingham, England.It houses one of the oldest theatre companies in the city: The Crescent Theatre Company. The Crescent also plays host to numerous visiting companies every year,...
, Birmingham, in 1979. It has been produced only once since, in 2001 by the Lyric Theatre of London. No further professional performances are known of; the only other production recorded was a production by Arts Canterbury in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
in 2006. In addition, it was also produced as a public performance at the Central School of Speech and Drama, London, between 28 February and 3 March 2007.
Significance
Noel Coward, it is assumed, knew that the Semi-Monde could not be produced in the environment of censorshipCensorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
that existed in the 1920s. However, in private correspondence, Coward described it as "jagged with sophistication", and sought to have it produced in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It has been put forward that Semi-Monde is Coward's personal exploration of the high society of which he was a member.
Characters
Semi-Monde follows almost thirty characters through short scenes of two or three characters. Almost all of the action is implied.- Luke Bellows, a male.
- Mike Craven, male, initially involved with Dorothy Price.
- Joshua Drake, a male.
- Violet Emery, a female.
- Marion Fawcett, a female between thirty and forty.
- Suzanne Fellini, a female friend of Dorothy Price.
- Beryl Fletcher, a female of about nineteen. Involved first with Harry Leftwich, then George Hudd.
- Beverly Ford, a male of about forty.
- Cynthia Gable, a female. Initially involved with Inez Zulieta.
- Cyril Hardacre, a male in his twenties.
- Albert Hennick, a male of about twenty-eight.
- George Hudd, a male.
- Jerome Kennedy, male, father of Norma.
- Norma Kennedy, daughter of Jerome.
- Julius Levenovitch, a Russian male.
- Harry Leftwich, a male of about forty-five.
- Owen Marshall, a male of about thirty. Married to Tanis Marshall.
- Tanis Marshall, a woman married to Owen Marshall.
- Freddy Palmer, a male.
- Dorothy Price, a female initially involved with Mike Craven. Later involved with Julius.
- Benny Tyrell, a male.
- Elise Trent, a female.
- Inez Zulieta, a female, slightly older than Cynthia Gable.
- Other characters: there are numerous other characters, including passersby, unnamed and minor characters, and a host of barmen, waiters, maitres d', bellhops, and the like.
Performances
- 1977, Glasgow Citizens' Theatre
- 1979, The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham
- 1989, Royalty Theatre, London
- 2000, Squeaky Quean Productions/GREX, Seattle
- 2001, London Lyric Theatre
- 2006, Arts Canterbury Productions, Ottawa. See the production's website for more information.
- 2007, Embassy Theatre, Central School of Speech and Drama, London
- 2008, Guildhall School of Music and Drama