Theatre: Present Laughter, Lyttelton; Moonlight and Magnolias, Tricycle; Dealer’s Choice, Menier
Perhaps it was all a joke. In 1939 Noël Coward wrote a play starring a vain, bullying, self-obsessed, misogynistic diva called Garry Essendine. Himself, that is, with his worst faults exaggerated. He duly took the role into the West End and everyone duly loved him. But all subsequent productions have lacked the magic of Coward’s presence. In Howard Davies’s revival Alex Jennings very nearly manages the impossible and makes Garry’s non-stop narcissism adorable. It’s no dishonour that he doesn’t succeed.
Garry Essendine is the light comedian’s Hamlet. Even the greatest attempts are partial failures. Elsewhere the production isn’t well harmonised. Different decades contend with each other. The costumes and furniture are from the 1940s, and Sarah Woodward (excellent as Garry’s unflappable secretary) perfectly captures the starchy manners of the war years.
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