CONSIDERED to be perhaps the most autobiographical of Noel Coward’s plays, Present Laughter is another of his witty, satirical comedies, focusing on the matinee idol and Lothario Garry Essendine and the complications in his life and work.

Director Flavia Bateson has created an intelligent, amusing and neatly paced new production.

Full justice was done to the crispness and sophistication of the Coward script as the characters engaged in a series of verbal duels.

An inspired touch were the silent, almost Chaplainesque routines performed by Helen Bliaut (Miss Erikson) to a Noel Coward song in the interludes between scenes in both acts.

Whilst Martin Humphrey was excellent as the seemingly insouciant, insincere Garry, who never knew when to stop acting, he was equally well matched by the rest of the cast.

The scenes with real life wife Marina as his secretary Monica and Katy Watkins as his stage wife were a particular delight.