Present Laughter (Matthew Warchus, 2019) wr. Noël Coward (1939); Andrew Scott, Indira Varma, Sophie Thompson, Joshua Hill, Suzie Toase, Abdul Salis, Nicole Agada, Kitty Archer, Enzo Cilenti; preparing to embark on an overseas tour, star actor Garry Essendine's colourful life is in danger of spiralling out of control, as he becomes engulfed by an escalating identity crisis; National Theatre Live - from the Old Vic; comedy; 3hr
Daniel Lammin:
There's always a risk with British comedies of this era and form feeling stolid and stale, especially if the production team are unable to circumnavigate its often outdated depiction of sexuality, race and gender. In this production though, 'Present Laughter' roars to life with energy, electricity and immediacy. From the moment it begins, it moves like a freight train and explodes like fireworks thanks to rigorous direction and dramaturgy, brilliant design and a perfect cast, all fashioned to mine deep into Coward's text and unearth the very human and often moving subtext underneath. Switch.
Garry Gillard | reviews | New: 29 November, 2022 | Now: 29 November, 2022