The Broadway revival of Noël Coward’s Present Laughter officially opens April 5 at the St. James Theatre with direction by Tony nominee Moritz von Stuelpnagel. The production stars Oscar and two-time Tony winner Kevin Kline as Garry Essendine, Tony and Emmy nominee Kate Burton as Liz Essendine, Tony nominee Kristine Nielsen as Monica Reed, and stage and screen star Cobie Smulders as Joanna Lyppiatt.
In Present Laughter, Kline plays a self-obsessed actor in the midst of a mid-life crisis. In signature Coward style, the leading man finds himself caught between fawning ingénues, crazed playwrights, and unexpected twists. The comedy began previews March 10 and is scheduled to continue through July 2.
Read what critics think of the revival below. Playbill will continue to update with reviews as they are published.
Daily News (Joe Dziemianowicz)
DC Theatre Scene (Jonathan Mandell)
Entertainment Weekly (Jesse Oxfeld)
The Hollywood Reporter (David Rooney)
New York Magazine (Jesse Green)
Time Out New York (David Cote)
The Wall Street Journal (Terry Teachout)
The cast also features Bhavesh Patel as Roland Maule, Tony Award nominee Reg Rogers as Morris Dixon, Matt Bittner as Fred, Ellen Harvey as Miss Erikson, Obie Award winner Peter Francis James as Henry Lyppiatt, Tedra Millan as Daphne Stillington, Sandra Shipley as Lady Saltburn, with Kelley Curran, Rachel Pickup, James Riordan, and David L. Townsend.
Flip through the production photos of the show below:
Present Laughter features set design by Tony Award winner David Zinn, costume design by Tony Award winner Susan Hilferty, lighting design by two-time Tony Award nominee Justin Townsend, sound design by Fitz Patton, and hair design by Josh Marquette. Casting is by Telsey + Company.
Present Laughter is produced by Jordan Roth, Jujamcyn Theaters, Spencer Ross, A.C. Orange International, Eric Falkenstein, Grove Entertainment, Bruce Robert Harris and Jack W. Batman, Joe Everett Michaels, Robert F. Ryan, Stephanie McClelland, Harbor Entertainment, and Daryl Roth.
Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.com, by calling (877) 250-2929, or in person at the St. James Theatre Box Office. A limited quantity of $42 lottery tickets to each performance are available through online entry at laughteronbroadway.com/lottery.
