Present Laughter tells the story of a few days in the life of Garry Essendine, a self-infatuated matinee idol slipping into middle age. The intertwining relationships between the characters — including his wife, girlfriend, secretary, manager, a young playwright who worships him, and others — have entertained audiences since Coward wrote the play in 1939. Critics consider the play “a timeless, imperishable comedy” that is “wittily impudent and neatly invented.”