The Vortex - Malvern Theatres

12:17pm Wednesday 13th February 2008

WHILE there is no longer shock surrounding this play - which the Lord Chamberlain tried to ban - it still packs an emotional punch.

First performed in 1924, Noel Coward claimed his intention was to write "a good play with a whacking good part in it for myself". What he achieved was to hold a mirror up to contemporary society and comment on the "eat, drink and be merry for we die tomorrow" attitude of the roaring Twenties.

Felicity Kendal is fantastic as the flamboyant Florence Lancaster. She fills the stage and has attention-grabbing energy.

For modern audiences, Florence - a woman desperately clinging to youth and passing compliments - can be seen as a sorry character. Living a lie, she pretends to be wonderfully happy, enduldges herself with young lovers, and forgets her family responsibilty but in truth is ruled by vanity.

Kendal portrays this fatal flaw with passion. There are tender moments - in particular the scene in which Helen (Phoebe Nicholls) tells Florence she is on the wrong track - well balanced with heartache and comedy. Kendal shines through them all, even if the contrant sobbin in the final scene feels a little over the top.

Dan Stevens, who was suitably dashing in the recent BBC adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, is superb, portraying Florence's son Nicky with just the right amount of fragility and, eventually, strength to hope for a better future.

The supporting cast, especially Phoebe Nicholls and Daniel Pirrie as Tom, deserve mention, as do the gorgeous period costumes and lush sets.

The Vortex runs at the Malvern Theatres until Saturday, February 16.

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