Theatre / Present Laughter, by Noel Coward, directed by Karen Vickery. At ACT Hub, until June 14. Reviewed by SIMONE PENKETHMAN.

The heritage-listed Causeway Hall was built by volunteers in 1925 and is now home to independent theatre, the ACT Hub.  

Its deco style makes it the perfect setting for Noel Coward’s, Present Laughter, a witty comedy, full of farce and innuendo that Coward wrote in 1939 near the outbreak of World War II. Coward starred in its first production, a provincial tour of England in 1942 when the West End was too dangerous a place for audiences to gather.

Karen Vickery’s direction and Michael Spark’s set make full use of the deep performance space at the hub. A vast living area full of gorgeous period props is framed by a mezzanine level with the classic three doors of bedroom farce.

The strong cast is led by Jarrad West as Garry Essendine, a matinée idol whose fame and power attracts an entourage of adoring, competing and conniving associates.

West is acerbic and energetic, evoking Stephen Fry more than the thin white dukes, Albert Finney and Peter O’Toole who have famously starred in the role.

West’s scenes with Karina Hudson as the lively femme fatale, Joanna who is sleeping her way through Garry’s associates are an absolute treat of comic one-upmanship.

Jenna Roberts has plenty of fun as Miss Erikson, Garry’s chain-smoking, Nordic housekeeper who shows formidable vocal prowess in act two. One can be sceptical of the many local remounts of older works we see these days, but this show has more relevance than many.

Garry’s heated interactions with obsessed fan, Roland Maule (Michael Cooper) depict timeless arguments about the artistic value of commercially successful works.

It’s currently all too common to change the gender of roles in classic plays. In this case, the gender reversals of two characters are entirely in the service of the show. In its time, Coward’s autobiographical work was set in an entirely heterosexual world. The addition of gender fluidity makes perfect sense today.

Dress warm and be ready to laugh out loud for this play.