Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Play review - "Peace in Our Time" by Noel Coward (1947)

 This play isn't as revived as much as other Coward works despite the high concept -it's set in an alternative London where the Germans won the war. Maybe this came out too soon after the war, when people didn't want to think about it. Kenneth More was in the original production.

I really liked this. I recognise its flaws - too many characters (could've done with a rewrite), perhaps too long a period of time when shorted may have been more effective (I acknowledge Coward wanted the war to end). Depiction of a Nazi occupied England very believable - fair weather journos, woman sleeping with enemy, Churchill shot, royals in Canada, everything a bit shabby. (Strategy wise I'm not sure how invasion would've worked from the west. From Africa through France I guess.)

Powerful scenes like a daughter being taken away to be tortured. Tough stuff. Needed another draft but easily one of his best post war works.

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