Present Laughter
Lyttelton, National Theatre, London from 25th September 2007 to 9th January
2008
At the centre of his own universe sits matinee idol Garry
Essendine: suave, hedonistic and too old, says his wife, to be having numerous
affairs. His line in harmless, infatuated debutantes is largely tolerated
but playing closer to home is not. Just before he escapes on tour to Africa,
the full extent of his misdemeanours is discovered. And all hell breaks loose.
You have reached a moment in life when a little restraint
would be becoming. You are no longer a debonair, irresponsible juvenile.
You are an eminent man advancing, with every sign of reluctance, into middle
age.
Noël Coward’s Present
Laughter premiered in the
early years of the Second World War just as such privileged lives were threatened
with fundamental social change. Staged at the National for the first time,
with Alex Jennings as Garry.
For all additional information and booking details, visit
the official web site: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
"It is a richly funny performance that confirms Coward's
innate puritanism" 
Michael
Billington, The Guardian
"Alex Jennings was superb as Professor Higgins
in Trevor Nunn's production of My Fair Lady. In the role of Garry, he draws
on similar talents and surpasses them. There's the electric wit and stage-filling
charisma, as well as the boyishness that makes people want to mother and
strangle him" Paul Taylor, The Independent
Audience's reviews: No audience reviews
