The Harrogate Advertiser

The Harrogatre Dramatic Society's production of Noel Coward's Present Laughter got off to a fine start on Tuesday night with not an empty seat in the house.
The play, set in the 1930s, is choc-a-bloc with Coward's witty sparkling dialogue, giving each member of the cast their own special chance to shine.
The plot revolves around the character of Garry Essendine, a popular and controversial actor of the era.
Idolised by scores of women, he is nevertheless closely protected by his nearest and dearest - his secretary, Monica Reed, his wife Liz, and close friends Henry Lyppiatt and Morris Dixon
But, when Essendine decides to have an affair with Henry Lyppiatt's beautiful wife Joanna, the fun and the intrigue really begin.
Derek Newton gives a strong performance as the dramatic Garry Essendine, over-acting delightfully as he shows Essendine's domestic life is as every bit as theatrical as one of his stage characters. He receives strong support from Sylvia Iveson as his long suffering and acid-tongued secretary Monica. Sylvia shows an ecellent sense of timing as she delivers one caustic comment after another, parrying insult after insult with her arrogant employer.
Commendable debut performances are also given by the two youngest cast members - Benedict Sandford as over-enthusiastic woud-be playwright Roland Maule, and Alexandra Lovell as Daphne Stillington, one of Essingdine's many admirers.
Both of these performers are just 16 but already they show a great deal of promise for the future.
The often flamboyant costumes are both believable and amusing (watch out for a bewildering array of dressing gowns!) and the set is perfectly in keeping with 1930s style, right down to the smallest detail.
If you happen to find some reason not to enjoy Judy Methven's production of Coward's hilarious comedy then, as Essedrine himself says, "May God forgive you - for I never shall"

Rebecca Shipp.