Still Life (play) "The Times" called it "a serious and sympathetic study of humdrum people suddenly trapped by love" and strongly praised Coward both for the play and his performance. After the successful production of the play, Coward expanded and adapted it into a full-length film script, "Brief Encounter" (1945), which was filmed by David Lean, with Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard in the roles originally played by Lawrence and Coward. A radio adaptation of the film was broadcast in 1955, and the following year Coward made a version for two voices which he recorded with Margaret Leighton. A French translation was given
Still Life (play) first presented at the Manchester Opera House beginning on 15 October 1935, and a seventh play, "Family Album", was added on the subsequent provincial tour. "Still Life", however, was added for the London run, together with "Ways and Means" and "Star Chamber", the last of which was performed only once. The first London performance in the cycle was on 9 January 1936 at the Phoenix Theatre but "Still Life" did not premiere until May 1936. Coward directed all ten pieces, and each starred Coward and Gertrude Lawrence. Coward said that he wrote them as "acting, singing, and dancing vehicles for