Still Life (play) mood without technical creaking or over padding, deserves a better fate, and if, by careful writing, acting and producing I can do a little towards reinstating it in its rightful pride, I shall have achieved one of my more sentimental ambitions." "Still Life" was first produced in London (1936) and later presented in New York (1936–1937) and Canada (1938). It has enjoyed several major revivals and in 1945 was adapted for film under the title "Brief Encounter". Like all the other plays in the cycle, it originally starred Gertrude Lawrence and Coward himself. Six of the plays in "" were
Still Life (play) Gertrude Lawrence and myself". The plays were performed in various combinations of three at each performance during the original run. The plays chosen for each performance were announced in advance, although a myth evolved that the groupings were random. Matinées were sometimes billed as "Today at 2:30". The Broadway openings for the three parts took place on 24 November 1936, 27 November 1936 and 30 November 1936 (including "Still Life") at the National Theatre, again starring Coward and Lawrence. "Star Chamber" was not included. The London and New York runs were limited only by Coward's boredom at long engagements. Major