Festival Theatre, Malvern – until 19th September 2026
Reviewed by Courie Amado Juneau
5*****
Since catching Blithe Spirit in an amateur production, I love Noel Coward. Catching a new play I had never seen before from the master’s pen, I was anticipating a treat.
The story revolved around established star Geri and an exploration of her social network (mostly friends and ex’s dependent on her continued fame) and how her love life (and that of others) affected the delicate dynamics in her life, with predictably farcical results.
Via some period music and a “curtain” showing a montage of newspaper headlines displaying the social whirl of Geri at all the fashionable places with the in crowd (like Warhol or Princess Margaret), the scene was quickly set without the need for rambling monologues. Once the curtain went up we found ourselves in the company of David Stillington – he who has lost his apartment keys and taken advantage of Geri’s spare bedroom and dressing gown…
Tracy-Ann Oberman is, of course, the lead and star of this show. She gave a sizzling performance, dazzling as a lady in her 40’s (ahem) who none could resist. I sure couldn’t! Every inch the star she is in real life – bringing this to the stage with a joyous conviction that does her and this production credit.
The rest of the cast were an ensemble affair of equal stars that also shined in the glittering firmament that Geri swept across. All had their own personalities and moments to hog the spotlight. All were wonderful. But James Dreyfus (playing secretary Monty) was a standout with an at times subtle, empathetic performance and at other times lovely Constable Goody moments of incredulity at the unfolding farce.
Arguably the biggest laugh of the evening was saved for Kit Young (as Johannes). The villain of the piece in many ways, his comeuppence was delicious – and I’m having to really resist telling you why. It’s worth going for this moment alone (you’ll know when it happens). I’m guessing kudos to Director Lindsay Posner for this masterstroke.
If you like 1970s fashion and music then this play will be right up your street as it evokes that era that style forgot with the precision of the Studio 54 disco lasers. With wigs, hair and makeup by Lee-Ellen Wilson and Bunny as Wardrobe Manager, deftly deploying costumes by Designer Peter McKintosh – this is a very stylish affair.
Which is more than can be said for the bedroom shenanigans that everyone was involved in! Those were heady times. I’ve read plenty of biographies of classic 70s rock bands so this was very familiar ground. I’m not sure if the 1939 original had the same level of decadence – I’d sure like to see the original to get a comparison.
And that’s something that impressed me. That the play left me longing for more. Longing to see the original which, I understand from overhearing a group in the foyer afterwards, has been liberally rewritten but with key lines still intact. I gather fans of the original won’t be jarred or disappointed – so rest assured classic Coward fans.
All in all, a pretty flawless performance which thoroughly deserves the full 5 stars I’m happy to award it.