SIMON Callow is perfectly cast as the devastatingly handsome Garry Essendine in this splendid Noel Coward play.

Despite the fact he is nearing middle age, everyone Garry encounters - both male and female - ends up totally infatuated with him.

Coward wrote this playas a vehicle for his own talent but Callow was magnificent with his spectacular tantrums and ruthless putdowns.

Long-suffering secretary Miss Erikson, played by Victoria Lennox, is one of the only people not infatuated with Garry and gives as good as she gets.

The black and white stage set is stunning and perfectly captures the 1940s period when the play was written.

Jessica Turner plays Garry's estranged wife Liz and proves to be the only one who really knows the man behind the actor's facade.

His one-night stands with Daphne Stillington, played by Marianne Oldham, and his friend's wife Joanna Lyppiatt, played by Lysette Anthony, end up causing more pain than pleasure.

Then the attentions of budding playwright Roland Maule, played by Robin Pearce, add great humour to the play. I have never heard a laugh quite like his before and it was really contagious.

The play is full of humour and great one-liners and, for an entertaining evening out, it can't be beaten.

AG