Present Laughter takes its title from Shakespeare's The Twelfth Night:
What is love?
Tis not hereafter;
Present mirth hath present laughter;
What's to come is still unsure:
In delay there lies no plenty;
Then come kiss me, sweet and twenty,
Youth's a stuff will not endure.
The main character, Garry Essendine, takes Shakespeare's admonition all too seriously, continually indulging his considerable appetite for wine, women and sleeping late.
Chaos ensues as the relative values of the post-war class system are revealed.
| Daphne Stillington |
Julia Cheetham |
| Miss Erikson |
Margaret Savaage |
| Fred |
John Smith |
| Monica Reed |
Sue Jones |
| Garry Essendine |
Fred Donnan |
| Liz Essendine |
Diana Boswell |
| Roland Maule |
Julian Rawle |
| Henry Lyppiatt |
Gordon Bennett |
| Morris Dixon |
Steve Williamson |
| Jaonna Lyppiatt |
Barbara Laughton |
| Lady Saltburn |
Moyra Hampson |
| Stage Manager |
Sue Webb |
| Assistant Stage Manager |
Joy Munton |
| Lighting |
Chris Swinhoe-Standon |
| Sound |
Graham Lawson |
| Properties |
Dilys Mason
Barbara Currie
Caroline Schofield |
| Wardrobe |
Frances Squire |
| Set Design |
Jacque Bilsborough |
| Set Construction |
David Currie
Bill Mitchell
Trevor Jones
Adele Taylor
Nick Capey |
| House Manager |
David Currie |
| Cover drawing by Jacque Bilsborough |
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