I can understand why the poster for Present Laughter has just a photo of Andrew Scott as he is the main attraction. However this play is definitely an ensemble piece featuring a wonderful cast of ten. Written by Noel Coward in 1939, it was first performed in 1942 with Coward in the main role of Garry Essendine, almost a parody of himself. Here Garry is brilliantly played by Andrew Scott in his Olivier award winning performance.
I'm not sure why I have never seen this play before, as it has been revived many times over the years with notable actors in the lead role. I avoided all reviews so knew nothing about the plot. The first two acts revolve around Garry's household and their many visitors. All seem to want a piece of Garry, a famous actor, and his hysterics are almost forgivable. The third and last act turns into something more like a farce, but at all times this is a welcome comedy. I laughed a lot and much is down to Scott and the cast.
The other two actors that were very familiar were the excellent Indira Varma as Garry's wife Liz (picture below) and the wonderful Sophie Thomson as his secretary and general factotum Monica Reed. i found afterwards that director Matthew Warchus has changed the gender of a couple of the cast but I would not have guessed. They obviously add to the general chaos of Garry's life. But maybe he brings it all upon himself. It was great.
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