The Young Idea
The Young Idea, subtitled "A comedy of youth in three acts", is an early play by Noël Coward, written in 1921 and first produced the following year.
In 1921, Coward was appearing at the St James's Theatre, London, in Polly With a Past, a comedy by George Middleton and Guy Bolton.
It ran for several months, and Coward, who always found long runs boring, diverted himself by writing a new play.
"[2] In June 1922, producer Robert Courtneidge took up an option on Coward's play and mounted a tour of it, beginning in Bristol, directing it himself.
He pretends not to have noticed, but after Roddy leaves, he takes Cicely to task, telling her that although he no longer loves her, he is unprepared to have a scandal.
The exchange does nothing to alleviate relations between the couple, which are already strained because George has invited Sholto and Gerda – his children from his first marriage – to stay with them.
The young people, brought up on the Continent by George's ex-wife, Jennifer, arrive full of high spirits.
They bring out two large photographs of their mother in her garden at Alassio, and, unnoticed by his father, Sholto puts them on the mantelpiece.
He tells them emphatically that he is no longer in love with Jennifer and is perfectly content with his life as an English country gentleman.
Still hiding, the young people watch the scene that develops as George confronts the eloping couple.
He calmly points out to his wife that life in British colonial society for a woman living with a man to whom she is not married will be highly unpleasant.
Cicely is wavering when Sholto and Gerda rush in and contrive to tip the balance by imploring her not to go, because "we're going to stay here always".
Maria excitedly announces that the carriage bringing the children home is approaching, and Jennifer asks her suitor to wait in another room until she has broken the news to them.
[7] James Agate wrote of the first production, "One remembers Mr Noel Coward's first play as a very light and entirely admirable comedy.
