The Talisman Present Laughter
Present Laughter at the Talisman Theatre and Arts Centre, Kenilworth. Running from Monday 10 – Saturday 15 February 2025. Directed by Vanessa Comer.
Review by Ashley Hayward
It is over 80 years since this Noel Coward comedy was first staged but its deliciously witty script has certainly stood the test of time with the talented cast definitely doing it justice.
Phil Reynolds stars as Garry Essendine, the self-obsessed famous actor who finds it impossible to walk past a mirror without taking a quick look and claims to dislike all the adulation that comes with his fame whilst revelling in it at the same time.
The action takes place in his authentic 1940s studio as he is preparing for a tour of Africa. The décor is highly appropriate for a star of those days and the costumes are all extremely stylish.
His complicated lifestyle is compounded by visits from women who have rather conveniently ‘forgotten their latch key’ and wish to seduce him, plus a young male playwright who idolises him and seeks his opinion of his latest work, in addition to a Lady Saltburn who brings her niece along to audition for him.
The audience are treated to a delightful confection of wit and decadence as Garry attempts to meet their conflicting demands whilst at the same time trying to placate his long suffering wife, his secretary and his management team.
He receives humorous support from Fred (Connor Bailey) his happy-go-lucky valet, Miss Erikson (Kathy Buckingham-Underhill) his rather quirky Scandinavian housekeeper and, Monika Reed (Aoife O’Gorman) his highly efficient and sharp-tongued secretary.
None of his staff are in any way surprised to find different ladies walking around the studio in his pyjamas when they arrive in the morning and seem to take everything in their stride.
There are convincing performances from the entire cast with notable interpretations from Alexandra Newman as the rather naïve and unsophisticated Daphne and Ruth Linnett who powerfully portrays the elegant and attractive Joanna.
All the actors give faultless performances as the play moves quickly along with great comedic timing and the scene changes are nicely accompanied with some of Coward’s famous compositions, most notably ‘Don’t put your daughter on the stage Mrs Worthington’.
It is thought that Noel Coward based the character of Essendine on himself and you can certainly imagine him relishing in some of the clever asides, put downs and insults. However, there are a few quite moving occasions when the character’s mask slips and reveal some of his insecurities as he enters middle age.
Coward’s witty play has probably been performed by thousands of professional and amateur groups over the years but if the old boy had been able to watch this production, I’m sure he would have approved.
Present Laughter is now sold out, but to go on the waiting list for tickets and to see what else is coming up at The Talisman Theatre, please go to: https://talismantheatre.co.uk/
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