Semi-Monde

Semi-Monde is a play written by Noël 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 Thelma Holt, Karl Sydow and Bill Kenwright at 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.

Noël Coward, it is assumed, knew that Semi-Monde could not be produced in the environment of censorship 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.

Semi-Monde follows almost thirty characters through short scenes of two or three characters. Almost all of the action is implied.

Semi-Monde is referenced in the chorus of the 1981 Simple Minds title track "Sons & Fascination": "Ma son, warm land, Semi-Monde".

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