The hilarious play A Laughing Matter by April De Angelis goes behind the theatrical scenes. It's 1773 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The crowd is getting restless. The leading man's been knocked out by a well-aimed potato from the audience.
But the show must go on. Do you give them what they want? Or what they need? This irreverent version of real life events tells the story of David Garrick, Dr Samuel Johnson, Oliver Goldsmith and a risky new play called She Stoops to Conquer . Garrick must decide between the lacklustre play preferred by his wealthy patroness, and Goldsmith’s brilliant but bawdy comedy.
De Angelis has cleverly wound truth and fiction together in this tale of the life of legendary Garrick, greatest actor of his time, and the remarkable personalities surrounding him. But she hasn’t let history get in the way of humour as we discover there was much more going on at the Drury Lane Theatre than serious rehearsal! The backstage antics of actors and visitors lead to a riotous conclusion as the opening night of Garrick’s chosen play finally arrives.