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Slice of life from another galaxy Star Quality Malvern Festival Theatre **** PUBLISHED in 1967, Noel Coward's final
play Star Quality is set behind the curtain of a London theatre putting
on a new all-star cast production - Dark Heritage. The players are a
collection of ruthless, lively, sensitive and fragile stereotypes which,
undoubtedly, the playwright would have drawn upon his own experiences.
In his diaries and autobiography, Coward is both astute and devastatingly articulate in his assessment of the different personalities of the leading ladies he worked with. Behind the red-curtain glamour, Coward conjures
up a wickedly observant satire of talent and treachery with his gallery
of egotistical, characters. In the eye of this melodramatic storm
of egos is an innocent young playwright seeing his work being pulled
apart and redesigned in front of his own eyes. Liza Goddard is glorious in her role as self-absorbed, demanding, over sensitive, glamorous leading lady - Lorraine Barrie. She captures the insecurities of a high
maintenance diva perfectly with her mannerisms, tone and style from the
moment she first arrives on stage in silk peach loungewear, wearing dark
glasses whilst clutching a small, cute fluffy dog, throughout her
dressing room dramas to the moment the curtain drops at the end of the
play within the play.
There is a wonderfully camp performance by
Anthony Houghton who plays the frivolous but wickedly manipulative and
always charming director's personal assistance Tony Orford.
Through his speeches we can only imagine Coward's impressions of a
compendium of leading ladies from his own repertoire of actresses
portraying rampant theatricality with particular Star Quality. There is a lovely performance by Gay Soper as
Lorraine Barrie's maid. She is singularly unimpressed by the
antics of the conceited and self-absorbed behaviour of the cast around
her, and good performances from a strong cast all round; Daniel Casey as
the Director Ray Malcolm, Bob Saul as the virtuous if slightly naïve
author, Sarah Berger as the over dramatic Marion Blake and Keith Myers
as the temperamental leading man. In this adaptation by Christopher Luscombe, the
direction is tight, scene changes seamless and best of all, we see Noel
Coward's brilliant command of wit, flamboyance, pose and poise come
together in a humorous and solid production. It was very well
received by the audience in Malvern, with a constant flow of ripples of
laughter. The period, mood and style is captured well, the elegant
suits, fur coats, handbags, hair styles, endless cigarettes, languid, “luvvie”
mannerisms and comic timing are all perfect ingredients for an enjoyable
4 star quality evening at the theatre. To 04-02-12 Johanna Brand
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