Noël Coward classic gets a makeover
Present Laughter, Noël Coward’s celebrated and hilarious portrayal of the temptations and pitfalls of theatrical celebrity, is going on tour.
Tracy-Ann Oberman will star as Geri Essendine, the first time that the character has been played by a female lead, having been originated on stage by Noël Coward himself and is traditionally played as Garry Essendine. Oberman says, “Present Laughter has always been one of my favourite plays. But when I looked at it more closely, I saw something beyond the sparkling comedy. I saw a portrait of the cost of celebrity — of a fragile ego trapped inside a gilded cage, desperately trying to hold back the one thing that catches up with every icon: time, and the fear of becoming irrelevant.
“In Coward’s original 1939 play, Garry Essendine is an ageing stage idol, prone to theatrical tantrums and ill-advised affairs, while those around him manage his chaos. But the moment I flipped the gender, the stakes suddenly became even more fascinating.”
Geri Essendine is a hugely successful actress who has been 39 for the best part of a decade. Her personality, wit and charm have earned her a legion of devoted fans, young and old, and a coterie of friends, acquaintances and hangers-on. Just as she is about to depart for a tour of Africa, Geri finds herself besieged by a bevvy of would-be lovers, not to mention her long-suffering secretary, estranged husband and an obsessed young playwright. Will she ever disentangle herself from their tightening clutches and incessant demands? And deep down, does she really want to…?
The Noël Coward Estate gave Oberman permission to explore her idea of changing the genders, and updating the setting to 1977 and Studio 54 – “Where bad behaviour and egotism was rife across all genders,” she says, adding, “Setting Present Laughter in the world of Studio 54 throws a fresh light on questions that feel surprisingly contemporary. In an industry that has so often been harsher on women than men, ageing and relevance are not simply matters of vanity. For performers whose lives have been shaped by applause and attention, the fear of losing the spotlight can feel overwhelming.”
But Coward purists need not fear: “We haven’t broken Noël Coward’s masterpiece,” begins Oberman. “Quite the opposite. Beneath the mirrored disco ball, Present Laughter remains what it has always been: a dazzling comedy about love, vanity, friendship and the strange business of being adored.”
This production marks the second time that Oberman has revisited classic texts and taken on the greatest of male roles, following her highly acclaimed performance as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice 1936.
James Dreyfus will play Monty. He won the 1998 Olivier Award for Best Supporting Performance in a musical for Lady in the Dark at the National Theatre with other notable stage roles including The Producers and Cabaret.
They will be joined by Adrian Lukis, as Len, Richenda Carey as Lady Saltburn, Seb Carrington as David Stillington, Eva Feiler as Rosina Maule, Gabriella Foley as Miss Erikson, Charlotte Randle as Henrietta, Jonathan Tafler as Morris, Perry Williams as Fred and Kit Young as Johannes.
Present Laughter is Directed by Lindsay Posner, following recent West End triumphs of Noises Off starring Felicity Kendal, A View From the Bridge starring Dominic West and The Deep Bue Sea starring Tamsin Greig. He is joined by Set and Costume Designer Peter McKintosh, Lighting Designer Richard Howell, Composer and Sound Designer Adam Cork and Casting Director Ginny Schiller CDG.
Richmond Theatre, Sept 22nd – 26th.
Booking and full tour details: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/present-laughter/
