Director Lindsay Posner’s production of Noël Coward’s classic comedy Present Laughter is a bold reimagining that swaps genders, changes eras and relocates the narrative across the Atlantic.
Transported from London in the late 1930s to Manhattan in the late 1970s, the production embraces the excess, celebrity obsession and hedonism of an era synonymous with Studio 54. It is a surprisingly natural fit for Coward’s exploration of fame, vanity and the fragile egos of the theatrical world.
The period is brilliantly recreated in Peter McKintosh’s stylish New York apartment set, complete with a spiral staircase, Andy Warhol-inspired artwork and wholly convincing views of the building opposite. The glamorous costumes are equally impressive. Whether wearing a wide-legged sequinned jumpsuit or something more understated, Tracy-Ann Oberman looks as though she has stepped straight off the set of Charlie’s Angels. With her flowing blonde hair and oversized sunglasses, she bears more than a passing resemblance to Farrah Fawcett-Majors.
Oberman stars as Geri Essendine, an actress and singer who replaces Coward’s traditionally male protagonist, the vain and self-absorbed actor Garry Essendine. She is a magnetic, commanding presence, bringing an intoxicating mixture of narcissism, vulnerability and razor-sharp comic timing to the role. Geri may be the centre of her own universe, but Oberman ensures that we can see the insecurities lurking beneath the glamorous exterior.
However, I particularly enjoyed the performances of James Dreyfus as Geri’s secretary, Monty, and Adrian Lukis as her estranged husband, Len. Their comic timing complements Oberman’s perfectly, while their wonderfully dry observations and witty asides deliver some of the evening’s best lines. Both are masters of the perfectly timed put-down, frequently stealing scenes without ever overshadowing the central performance.
Geri is surrounded by a close-knit circle of theatrical friends with whom she shares mutual relationships. They depend on her for their livelihoods and social standing, while she relies on them to manage her career and increasingly chaotic personal life. However, her latest affair with Johannes (Kit Young), the husband of her friend Henrietta (Charlotte Randle), threatens to bring their carefully constructed world crashing down.
Matters are further complicated by Rosina Maule (Eva Feiler), an aspiring young playwright from Yonkers, and David Stillington (Seb Carrington), who has inveigled his way into Geri’s apartment and seems equally determined to insert himself into her life. As the complications multiply, so too do the misunderstandings, jealousies and increasingly frantic attempts to maintain appearances. It is classic Coward, with the comedy arising as much from the characters’ extraordinary self-absorption as from the situations in which they find themselves.
In the end, Present Laughter is a brilliant evening of entertainment, with a superb cast bringing Coward’s sharply observed, if substantially reinvented, characters vividly to life. Posner’s production demonstrates that, although the fashions, attitudes and social conventions may change, the vanity, insecurity and absurdity of theatrical personalities remain reassuringly timeless. Bold, stylish and consistently funny, this is a Present Laughter that feels fresh and distinctive while retaining all the wit, glamour and delightfully theatrical spirit of Coward’s original.
Noel Coward’s Present Laughter is at the Playhouse until 24th October 2026, details in the link below.
https://everymanplayhouse.com/event/present-laughter/
Reviewer: Adrian Cork
On: 20/10/2026
