On Stage: Red Acts’ Present Laughter

RedActs staging of Noel Coward’s humorous play Present Laughter provided the perfect platform for younger actors to showcase their stagecraft.

Given RedActs’ aim is to provide an opportunity for students studying at Melbourne’s RMIT University and the wider community to develop their skills and deepen their love for the performing arts, most of the cast were studying or recently finished studying.

Performing in front of an enthusiastic audience at RMIT’s Kaleide Theatre, the cast of 10 clearly enjoyed presenting one of Coward’s most loved plays.

Present Laughter tells of the trials and tribulations of successful and self-obsessed light comedy London stage actor Garry Essendine (Ruby Grinter) before a planned tour to Africa.

Loved by fans, 40 year old Garry’s life is always chaotic but in the lead-up to the tour it’s even more crazy thanks to the actions of fans and his own mid-life crisis.

Causing the greatest headaches are Daphne Stillington (Annabel Edwards) and Joanna Lyppiatt (Charlotte Fels), two women who claim to love Garry and who end up staying overnight.

Both create major complications.  Daphne is the niece of Lady Saltburn (Holly Douglas), a wealthy aristocrat and patron of the arts.  Joanna is the wife of one of Garry’s best friends, the theatrical producer and successful businessmen Hugo Lyppiatt (Ali Samaei).  To further complicate matters Joanna is already having an affair with Garry and Hugo’s best friend and Garry’s theatrical manager Morris Dixon (Kailen Missen).

Then there’s Roland Maule (Bodhi Keech), an aspiring young playwright who becomes obsessively fascinated with Garry.

Those trying to help Garry include his ex-wife Liz Essendine (Meron Samson) who, despite their separation, remains part of his close-knit circle. She is desperate to ensure Joanna’s actions don’t derail relationships between Garry, Hugo and Morris.

Also providing practical support is Garry’s secretary of 17 years Monica Reed (Madeleine Cheale). A level-headed and stabilising force she has a great understanding of Garry’s personality and deals with it super efficiently.

Garry’s loyal and chatty valet Fred (also played by Ali Samaei) and housekeeper Miss Erikson (Mimi Dickinson) highlight the comedic and chaotic atmosphere within the Essendine household.

All the cast did a great job in bringing their characters to life. While it took a while to adapt to Garry being played by a female, the comic skills of Grinter were certainly appreciated by the audience. Thanks to her work and the rest of the cast the funny and farcical nature of Present Laughter shone through.

Present Laughter was staged at RMIT’s Kaleide Theatre from April 16 to 19.

Jenny Burns attended the show as a guest of the production company.