Star Quality

The Combined Actors of Cambridge unearth a perhaps neglected gem – a Noël Coward piece adapted by Christopher Luscombe. This is theatre about theatre, and  the sometimes damaged souls it attracts. It is beautifully and wittily directed by Sarah Ingram.

Since plays emerge from writers’ imaginations, it’s perhaps natural that Coward’s deepest empathies lie with the literary mind. The author of a new play, played by Craig Allan, is the touchstone character of the piece, who guides us through and comments on the play’s developments.  

The production navigates brilliantly the delicate distinction between theatre’s necessary artifice – that pronounced delivery essential for reaching the back row – and pure overacting. The entire cast demonstrates considerable range, shifting between the heightened style that live performance demands and moments of clear theatrical excess, whilst showcasing their craft through well-chosen classical quotations that reveal both character depth and performer skill.

The text threatens at times to fall into sexism, but evolves into a more nuanced analysis of power dynamics within creative communities.

All performances reach impressive standards, with standout work from Rory Lowings as a manipulative director and Jenny Scudamore as an actress who, in delicious irony, overacts in life whilst finding authenticity on stage. Their dynamic anchors the evening’s exploration of performance versus reality.

The excellent set design (Designer Sarah Deboys) impresses for amateur theatre, though the first half’s decision to place naturalistic settings against a plain back curtain creates an unfortunate disconnect that undermines the production’s otherwise polished aesthetic. When the staging finds its confidence in the second half, the visual storytelling matches the script’s sophistication.

This revival demonstrates that Coward’s theatrical insights remain razor-sharp, offering both entertainment and genuine insight into the tensions of artistic life. A triumphant rediscovery of overlooked material.

Photos credit: Paul Ashley