The play takes place in the apartment of famous actor Garry Essendine (pictured) and gives an insight into the life of an egotistical and overdramatic actor who spends his nights entertaining women and his days wearing silk robes.

Director Karen Miller hit the nail on the head when she said the lead actor, Christopher Clark rose to the challenge with "gusto". "Coward wrote the play as a tour de force show for himself', which resulted in Chris being on stage almost the entire time," she said.

As Essendine, Clark carries the play as an authentic and very funny prima donna.

There wasn't a lot of laughter in the first act of Present Laughter, but fortunately the pace picked up in the second act with the plot culminating in a couple of manic situations involving the full cast.

Ben Freeman was also funny as Roland Maule, a fidgety aspiring playwright who was a little obsessed with Essendine.

Margaret Olive plays his long-serving secretary, who tries to bring some order into his life, as does his wife, played by Julia Griffith.

Glenhaven resident Suzanne Kingston is an avid Castle Hill Players fan and said she was attracted to this play because of Coward.

"I love his writing, he's always so witty and clever," she said.

"The main actor [Clark] did a great job and so did Margaret Olive."

Present Laughter runs until February 25, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, at 8.15pm and Sundays at 4.30pm.

Bookings: paviliontheatre.org.au or 9634 2929.