Present Laughter – Richmond Theatre

Writer: Noel Coward

Director: Belinda Lang

Reviewer: James Higgins

The Public Reviews Rating:

Present Laughter is another classic Noel Coward play full of his usual Wit and Humour. Written in 1939 just as War Broke out in Britain, Present Laughter allows us to peer through a window and view the last days of privileged London society before reality hit home. When first performed in 1942 it was the great Master himself (Coward) that assumed the lead role.

Michael Taylor’s glamorous set was excellent and its huge window and well crafted studio a perfect backdrop to the trials and tribulations of Garry Essendine (Robert Bathurst), the Charming west end actor lost in his own vanity. The play was directed by the talented Belinda Lang who also manages to play Garry Esseldine’s long suffering secretary with aplomb. As we move through the acts we observe how Garry has lost faith in his ‘inner circle’ and how he becomes exasperated at the constant demands from every angle. He also has to contend with creepy obsessive fan Roland Maude (Tim Bouverle) who seeks encouragement but is given short shrift and the infatuated Daphne (Dorothea Myer-Bennett) who he meets at a debonair party and ends up wearing his pyjamas.

Despite his frustrations two people shape his life and help him stay sane. Belinda Lang brings great character to the role of Monica, his secretary of 17 years who knows him better than he does and gets on splendidly with the other Woman in his life his ex wife Liz (Serena Evans)

The play started quite slowly but roared into life after the interval and kept the audience entertained. Garry describes what goes on around him as being “like a French farce” and as he prepares to travel to Africa we watch as his ‘inner circle’ descends into chaos.

The whole cast was strong and very convincing but Robert Bathurst stood tallest of all giving a superb and energetic performance as Garry. He wasn’t as dapper as Mr Coward but he had the wit and swagger.There were many laugh out loud moments as the plot developed and we saw how everyone swarmed to Garry like bees round a honey pot but in the end it was the same old stalwarts that saved him from himself. Great entertainment from ‘The Master’ in this autobiographical comedy.