Written by Noel
Coward
Directed by Matthew
Warchus
National Theatre Live
film presentation from London
Dendy Cinemas Sunday
2 February
Reviewed by Len Power
In the latest National Theatre Live film presentation, Noel
Coward’s play, “Present Laughter” gets a stylish makeover by director, Matthew
Warchus.
Written by Coward in 1939, it was not produced until 1942
because the Second World War began while it was in rehearsal, and the British
theatres closed. The title is drawn from
a song in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night that urges "present mirth hath present
laughter".
In the few days before embarking on an African tour, star
actor Garry Essendine’s colourful life is in danger of spiralling out of
control. Engulfed by an escalating
identity crisis as his many and various relationships compete for his
attention, Garry’s few remaining days at home are a chaotic whirlwind of love,
sex, panic and soul-searching.
Played out on Rob Howell’s beautifully designed art deco
setting, the cast of ten expertly wring every laugh out of this entertaining
play. Watching the performances by these
actors is a master class in playing this type of mannered comedy.
As the leading character, Garry Essendine, Andrew Scott is
brilliant. Playing at a feverish pitch
throughout, he makes this spoilt, temperamental, self-centred actor a man of
great charisma and charm, even though he’s a pain in the neck at the same
time. It’s an extraordinary performance,
physically and vocally.
Sophie Thompson as Essendine’s long-suffering secretary and
virtual nanny, Monica Reed, is equally impressive with a quirky yet commanding
performance. Indira Varma gives a highly
sophisticated and attractive performance as ex-wife, Liz Essendine, who still
makes it her mission in life to keep him on the straight and narrow.
There is fine support from the rest of the highly skilled
cast including Enzo Cilenti as the handsome and very available Joe, Luke
Thallen as the hysterical writer, Roland Maule, and Abdul Salis as the nervous agent,
Morris Dixon.
The direction by Matthew Warchus is impressive with its depth
of characterisations and believable relationships. He has it all playing at break-neck speed with
split second timing especially in the farcical second act.
Coward’s play has been altered from the original by changing
the gender of certain characters. In the
original play, the seductions and affairs are strictly heterosexual. At the time it was written, censorship laws
would not have allowed for anything else.
In this production, Garry Essendine is portrayed as bisexual
in his relationships. It’s easy to see
how this could feel justified by the production team. The play originally had a working title of
“Secret Sorrow” and Coward, a homosexual who never actually declared his sexual
preference during his life, acknowledged that the leading character of the
play, Garry Essendine, was a caricature of his real-life persona.
While this version plays beautifully and is very
entertaining, it’s a concern that modern audiences will now think that this is
the play as originally written by Noel Coward.
If the play is considered a classic and is still worth performing, the
script should not need to be altered from the author’s original intention.
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on the Artsound FM 92.7 ‘In the Foyer’ program on Mondays
and Wednesdays at 3.30pm.
