Andrew Kay: Present Laughter

Samuel West it would seem is born to play Coward and in this acidic expose of the mind of a theatrical star his talents are given full voice. He delivers the arrogance and the fragility with perfect balance, so well that one can almost forget that the plot of this later work is somewhat slender, little more than a farce, albeit at times a very funny one.

Phyllis Logan is superb as the hard nosed secretary to West’s Gary Essendine, clearly adoring the man but in no way suffering any of his petulance or indulgences. Jason Morrel’s blunderingly damaged Morris is a comic performance filled with hysterical energy – which he controls perfectly and the rest of the company are equally smart in their delivery of this perfectly pitched period piece. The comedy of the first act is countered by a touching second in which Zoe Boyle as Joanna has to deftly seduce Essendine, and this is delivered beautifully, as tenderly as possible in a comedy which after the interval descends into door hopping farce. A thoroughly entertaining evening of theatre delivered by a fabulous cast.

Theatre Royal Brighton
8 August
Andrew Kay
5 stars