Denise Astwood is a classically trained actress who plays Monica, Gary's sharp and witty personal assistant. Brisk, unruffled and efficient, she organises his life and tries to keep everything running smoothly. This is not easy, because Gary is always very theatrical. Monica has been in the job for a long time, and together with Morris and Liz, Gary form a close-knit group who share mutual respect and trust.

"I like my character a lot, and she is good fun to play," Mrs. Astwood says. "She has some absolutely wonderful lines – very Noel Coward., whose plays I really enjoy. It is a very funny play, and in a way I think he is sending up theatre's reputation as being all it seems. Coward is taking it to extremes, so it is a good laugh." Mrs. Astwood has not acted in a Coward play before, but is familiar with the playwright's work, and says bringing Monica to life is an exciting challenge. "It is so helpful to work with a cast which trusts each other," she says. "You must have that trust on stage because of what happens."

Of the director, the actress says: "Jane is great to work with. She knows exactly what she needs from each character, and how best to help each actor get there. I like her professionalism and dedication. I was classically trained in the theatre, so it is wonderful to work with someone like her."

Kathy DeCouto is cast as Joanna, a stylish, sophisticated, married women who is basically a predator of men, and about whom everyone talks. Both she and her husband have affairs, but whatever Joanna goes after she gets. At least an hour passes before she appears on stage, and when she does she fulfils the audience's expectations of her character.

"I personally think she is likeable from an audience point of view. There is a character in the TV show 'Sex and the City' which is completely her," Ms DeCouto says.

Of the character she plays, the actress says, "I am not typecast, but I relate to her as a fun character to play who is nothing like me. To play characters realistically you have to find yourself in the role, and I am settling in and enjoying it. Joanna is very attractive, and comments that she has just the right amounts of sex antagonism mixed with subtle flattery. Her moves, her actions – everything is perfectly planned and plotted out."

Ms DeCouto is no stranger to the local stage, but it has been 18 years since she last performed here. In the interim, she has lived abroad, including Hong Kong where she had a business, and also travelled. She once taught drama at Berkeley Institute, and has also directed.

"I have always loved theatre, and have been doing it since I was about 10. It is a big commitment, but it is definitely something I enjoy, and I look forward to doing more," she says.

Temporarily sidelined by an accident which left her injured one week after rehearsals began, Ms DeCouto has nothing but admiration for director McCulloch, whose patience and guidance helped her to catch up on lost rehearsal time. "A lot of directors would have dropped me because I was so far behind, but she went the extra mile and gave me help when I needed it," the actress says. "She would be quite hard, and then follow that up with the good I did as well. Sometimes you work with directors who are critical, but Jane is very much there for whatever you need. She is great, and makes you feel you can do it. It is a terrific combination for a director."

Kate Eastham plays Daphne, a young, almost naive woman in her early 20s who is falling in love with the much older Gary. She thinks he loves her and they have a future together, but she is out of her element, and he is not interested.

"Daphne is very eager, and it is a nice, light role which is fun to play," Miss Eastham says. "I am enjoying it a lot."

Of the main male character, she says, "Gary is so funny, and Richard, who plays him, is terrific." Currently an English and drama student at Kent University in England, she has a major role in this play, and pays tribute to her fellow cast members for being "so nice and supportive". She also praises Ms McCullough for being "so encouraging, and nice and easy to talk to".

"I want her to tell me how to do things because she is obviously so experienced. Her direction is good."

No stranger to the stage, Miss Eastham participated in pantomimes when she was younger, and has also acted in a few university plays. She will return to England to resume her studies the day after 'Present Laughter' closes.

Jo Shane plays Liz, an ex-actress who is Gary's ex-wife. Although divorced, they are still very much involved in each other's lives through the theatre business, and she produces and writes plays. Liz tries desperately to keep Gary on the straight and narrow and protect him from all the other women, and they are obviously devoted to each other.

"It is fun for me because Liz interacts at high volume with some of the other women, and there are some very high-spirited exchanges," Mrs. Shane says. "It takes an enormous amount of energy, and I enjoy playing her."

Especially delightful to the actress is once again sharing the stage with Mr. Fell, whose professionalism is well known to and admired by local audiences. The two have not acted together since the days of the Triangle Theatre productions at the Hamilton Princess hotel, and specifically the long-running 'A Month of Sundays'.

"Richard's is a massive part, which takes one hundred times more energy than mine, and he is going to be superb," Mrs. Shane says. "Gary is a very naughty rascal, whom I implore to stop having affairs all over the place, but it doesn't stop him making eyes at young girls. I think, more than anything, that it highlights Coward's very uneasy relationship with producers, dealing with money, and having his plays put on in terrible theatres."

While she loves Coward's plays, the actress admits the writing is "really difficult stuff".

"Comedy always seems to be so easy, but the easier it looks, the harder it is," she says. "Coward's plays are very cleverly written, but they are not kind to actors. Because of the way he writes, the lines can trip them up if they are not careful. It is technically very challenging."

Mrs. Shane is "delighted" to have Ms McCulloch as the director. "As an actress I have been in two productions Jane has directed – 'The Cherry Orchard' and Ratigan's 'Deep Blue Sea' – both of which were superb experiences."

'Present Laughter', Daylesford Theatre, 8 p.m. Performances run from September 10 to 13 and 15 to 20. Tickets $30. Available: BMDS box office at Daylesford. September 8/9 5:30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. Thereafter, one hour before performances. Also see www.boxoffice.bm.