'Present Laughter'

By Robert H. Miller
Special to the Tidings

For sheer entertainment, I doubt any production in Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2003, repertoire will outclass Noel Coward's autobiographical farce, "Present Laughter," which had a rapturous reception at the Angus Bowmer Theatre last Sunday.

And no wonder. It dazzles in all aspects: Richard L. Hay's scenic design, an exquisite and elegant studio in 1939 Chelsea, London; breathtakingly beautiful gowns and ensembles and impeccable men's wear from Mara Blumenfeld, the costume designer; the lighting design of Robert Peterson; brilliant acting; and inimitable direction from Peter Amster who continually embellishes the action with delightful deftness and amusing invention.

But, of course, the play's the thing, and Coward certainly had a talent to amuse, as evidenced by the rippling repartee in "Present Laughter" as he details the amorous entanglements of a conceited actor-playwright, a certain Garry Essendine, really none other than Coward himself. He has a small coterie of friends and business associates, a secretary, and a household run, though that is hardly the operative word, by his valet Fred and housekeeper Miss Erikson. Though separated from his wife Liz, they remain friends and "understand" one another.

He leads a giddy sexual life as a matinee idol, lapping up the adoration of his admirers, so that he can hardly surface until the late morning, no doubt from having to recharge his batteries.

So, if Garry Essendine attracts the women, he also becomes involved with a young playwright, Roland Maule, who has become obsessed with him and despises commercial theatre. Christopher Duval earned a well-deserved hand for his hilarious antics in this role. In cameo roles, Sandy McCallum amuses with his "Rightyo" and jauntiness as he goes off all spiffed up for his own dalliance with his Doris. Then Margaret Schenck makes the Swedish housekeeper and spiritualist, Miss Erikson, comically dopey and droopy, but then later as Lady Saltburn is oh, so ladylike in elegant clothes and furs.

Brent Harris, a newcomer to OSF, gives a bravura performance as Garry Essendine - supremely vain, harassed, charming, and a posturer par excellence. Eileen DeSandre as Monica Reed, his secretary of just on seventeen years, is superb in how she handles his "affairs" (business and otherwise) and gives forth some withering words.

One of Essendine's overnight ladies is Daphne Stillington and Kim Rhodes fetchingly portrays the young star-struck aspiring actress whose head is turned by the experience. Another joy is Robin Goodrin Nordli as Joanna Lyppiatt. Not only is she cool and elegant and poised, but she and Essendine engage in a battle of banter that is Coward at his best; one of the most entertaining interludes in the play.

Rounding out the cast are Suzanne Irving as Liz Essendine, David Kelly as Morris Dixon, a theatrical producer, and Richard Farrell as Henry Lyppiatt, Garry's business partner and financial manager.

Coward was a prolific playwright, and the speed at which he tossed off his plays is legendary. He wrote two contrasting plays in 1939, with war in Europe looming ominously. They were "This Happy Breed" and "Present Laughter." In his diary he noted that "in all probability they will never be produced," but in fact they toured Britain (with the addition of "Blithe Spirit") in 1942 and the trio came to the West End in London in 1943. When his musical "Pacific 1860" failed, he appeared again in "Present Laughter" in the West End, when it ran for 520 performances, even though he pulled out once the play was an established hit. The play was successfully produced in New York in 1946 with Clifton Webb in the Coward role. Later, Coward himself played in a production in Los Angeles and San Francisco, with Eva Gabor cast as Joanna Lyppiatt.

Essendine believes the whole business of sex is vastly overrated, "I enjoy it for what it's worth and fully intend to go on doing so for as long as anybody is interested, and when that time comes that they're not, I shall be perfectly content to settle down with an apple and a good book!"

For the present, well, there's "Present Laughter." Lots of it!