A Laughing Matter

It’s 1773 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London. The crowd is
getting restless. The leading man’s unconscious but the show must
go on

This irreverent version of real-life events tells the story of David Garrick, Dr Johnson, Oliver Goldsmith and a new play called She Stoops to Conquer

Caught between financial pressures and artistic ambition, Garrick must decide if he can risk staging a play which could make or break his career

“ A rumbustious romp through the career of Garrick ... De Angelis’s play is full of sharp insights into a bygone age. It shows the tensions between those who thought of theatre as a way of improving morals and those who wanted to have fun and laugh at social conventions” ~ Tribune

A Laughing Matter was produced by Out of Joint and the Royal National Theatre, where it opened in 2002 in tandem with a production of She Stoops to Conquer

“ ... De Angelis’ dazzling back-stage drama about the events ...” ~ What’s On

“ De Angelis manages to combine modern and classical elements in a brilliant and amusing exploration of theatrical issues, styles and personal tragedies ...” Herald
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