Enjoy a witty production of ‘Present Laughter’

BIRMINGHAM — Indulge in high comedy with the Birmingham Village Players during their run of “Present Laughter.” 

Opening night is Dec. 5, and the show will only grace the stage for two weekends, with the last day of the show being Dec. 15. 

The high comedy that is performed in “Present Laughter” is a sophisticated type of humor that typically generates laughs through satire and wit. 

“It’s very witty. It tends to be quite subtle, but also very funny, because there’s a lot of play on words. It is more the use of language and situation, rather than broad comedy,” Director Nancy Arnfield said.

She uses the show “Noises Off” as an example of broad comedy, which while still a humorous play that she enjoys, is very different from “Present Laughter.” 

“Present Laughter” was written by Noël Coward in 1939, but did not premiere until September 1942, due to World War II.

Kerry Milliron, of Birmingham, plays the leading man, Garry Essendine, whom Coward based on himself. The character is considered a “matinee idol” and is approaching a midlife crisis. The show revolves around a group of friends and the chaos that occurs among them.

“I have directed three or four of Noël Coward’s plays, and I have spent a lot of time researching him and his work to try to make it as true to him as possible,” Arnfield said. 

Since over 40 people auditioned for the show, the cast was able to be chosen based on both how well they physically fit the role, as well as their willingness to buy into the style of the show. 

“Noël Coward was very involved with music, and he writes his plays in a very distinctive rhythm, so that each portion of the show has its its own tempo, its own dynamic. This cast is very much in tune with that dynamic of the script,” Arnfield said.

While this is his first show with the Birmingham Village Players, Milliron has experience in both comedy and drama productions. He notes that this type of comedy relies heavily on language, which his character happens to speak a lot of throughout the show. 

“The challenges mostly have to do with the amount of language that comes out of this guy’s mouth (his character). I think, Nancy, the director, told me there are only 11 pages in this 100-page play that he is not in and speaking and moving,” Milliron said. “He is in constant motion and speech.”

Enjoy the wit of “Present Laughter” during its two-weekend run. Shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from Dec. 5 to 15 will begin at 8 p.m., and Sunday shows will start at 2 p.m. 

Individual reserved tickets can be purchased for $30 (includes ticketing fee) by calling the box office at (248) 644-2075 or by visiting birminghamvillageplayers.com. The Birmingham Village Players also offers a Flex package for $250 that provides buyers with 10 tickets that can be redeemed at any shows.