Relative Values: A Play in Three Acts

by Noël Coward

Genres: Plays

111 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1952

About the author

Sir Noël Peirce Coward was an English actor, playwright, and composer of popular music.

Among his achievements, he received an Academy Certificate of Merit at the 1943 Academy Awards for "outstanding production achievement for In Which We Serve."

Known for his wit, flamboyance, and personal style, his plays and songs achieved new popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, and his work and style continue to influence popular culture. The former Albery Theatre (originally the New Theatre) in London was renamed the Noël Coward Theatre in his honour in 2006.

Reviews

[Ali]

"ما توی آمریکا به کسی که نه جایی داره واسه رفتن، نه چیزی که به خاطرش زندگی کنه، یکی که فقط یک باسن داره که روش بشینه و مدام آرزوی مرگ کنه، میگیم باسن."

چه اتفاق‌هایی میتونه زندگی آدم رو تبدیل بکنه به یک باسن؟

[Isabella ⸙]

(3.5 stars)

(1976 BBC radio adaptation directed by John Cardy)

I happened upon the movie adaptation a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I rewatched it the other day (it's a comfort movie of mine) and imagine my surprise upon finding out that it is based off a play! It seemed rather serendipitous given the Noël Coward stint I've been on this year, so I decided to give the play a listen.

First off, I must disagree with the critics saying that the movie is a poor adaptation of the play. Much of its charm is due to the cast and I think it plays with the visual comedy rather well. As such, I did not enjoy the play version as much as the movie, nor, in fact, as much as Coward's other plays, but it does still make for an enjoyable way to spend a commute.

[Anton Segers]

Op zijn 25 schrijft Noël Coward Easy Virtue, uit jeugdig verzet tegen de upperclass die geen gelijkheid duldt.
Op zijn 52 maakt hij deze Relative value, en de titel zegt het al: de oudere Coward relativeert zijn jongere waarden en spot met het gelijkheidsideaal.
Ook qua niveau is dit stuk van relatieve waarde: makkelijke vondsten als personages die zich voordoen als anderen, en oppervlakkige typeringen.
Geef mij maar een vooroorlogse Coward.

[Miriam]

Genius! As anything written by Noel Coward. Witty, superb social and human critic. I read this play 20 years ago. Reading it again was equally pleasant.

[Ruth]

My favorite plays are comedy of manners and this is a fun one! I laughed out loud several times. The movie adaptation with Julie Andrews is very close to the play and also hilarious.

[Angelique]

Don't watch the movie. Just don't. The play is fine as is. It's not groundbreaking, but entertaining enough.

[Niloud]

کتاب قشنگ و روونی بود با رگه هایی از طنز بامزه که برای بیرون اومدن از اسلامپ توصیه میشه بنظرم
نمره ی اصلیم بهش ۴.۲۵