Present Laughter

This production is spiced with moments of real theatre magic.

Interesting how NoëlCoward’s work seems to be experiencing something of a serious comeback.  Present Laughter is currently being played on Broadway and starring Kevin Klein.

The story is simple; famous charismatic actor Garry Essendine is gearing up to do an African tour.  The complications are intrinsic to his relationships, lifestyle and the business of theatre production.  It is a comedy of manners teetering in farce and often really funny in that clever witty high camp way of Coward’s work and era. 

The romantic relationships that cause consternation and angst are heterosexual, though, I think, part of the depth of the work is the intrigue of Coward’s actual sexual orientation.

The set is handsomely realized (Marg Muehlheim/Andrew Meldrum) as an art deco apartment with depth, style and several doors for off set rooms - for hiding people – of course.  Costumes (Julie Baldwyn) very often work in lovely sync with the colours of the set. 

All actors take to their parts with real aplomb and serve the production skillfully.  Serah Nathan brings us a lovely, lively Daphne Stillington who sets the scene and creates a kind of background narrative to what eventuates.  Her heightened energy trulyenhances the piece.  No mean feat to open a piece of theatre and Ms. Nathan must be complemented for doing this so charmingly.

Tim Allan as Roland Maule exudes energetic wackiness and is most entertaining.  Alan Stone as Fred, Essendine’s manservant,t conveys appropriate ironic awareness and even dances a lick.  Margaret Mulhlheim’s Miss Erikson is fascinating and particularly in her exit scene.  Cherry Servis as Monica is marvelously straight-laced in her extraordinary capacity to deal with the vicissitudes of her employer.  With a twinkle in her eye she graciously witnesses Essendine’s romantic mess-ups and experiences his curt, glib discourtesies.

But it is Michael Treloar and Justine Press who really wow the audience.  The best work emerges in the second half of the performance and particularly when these two are on stage together.

Mr. Treloar plays the acerbic, cynical, sarcastic, over wrought Garry Essendine, something of a parody of Coward himself.  This is a fabulous role for him and he excels in it (many times during interval I heard audience members whispering ‘isn’t he good’).

Justine Press as Joanna Lyppiatt is just a joy to watch.  Miss Press inspires comforting confidence as she is quite obviously completely in control of her marvelously facetious yet courageous character.  She embraces the style and times of the piece and with perfect diction and exemplary timing.

Andrew Meldrum as director oversees a well-paced and beautifully flowing production.   He is to be complemented on this and his excellent casting.  Things move very smoothly in times when the set is peopled with a considerable number of characters.  There is no unnecessary clutter either realized or imagined.

I will be very surprised if Present Laughter doesn’t have a sell out season.  Very classy!

Suzanne Sandow