Star Quality

"Star Quality" is the last play written by Noel Coward and is presented on one of the Noel Coward collection discs. The play stars Ian Richardson, Susannah York, Peter Chelsom, David Yelland, and Pam Ferris.

The story concerns the production of a play by a new playwright, Bryan Snow. The director is Ray Malcolm (Ian Richardson), and the star is to be a famous actress, Lorraine Barry (York). While she puts on a good act when Bryan meets her, in fact she's a demanding bitch. She will have to be "handled" by the director. Bryan finds it all very strange, the way these theatrical people talk to one another and the mind games they play.

Ian Richardson, a perfect actor for Coward's work, is magnificent and is the best thing about this light play, though everyone else is excellent, particularly David Yelland as his protégé Tony.

Very well done.

This is a bubbly backstage tale of a young innocent playwright and his first produced play. The best thing here (among many great things) is the usual unforgettable quality Ian Richardson brings to the mix as the director of the play. He and Coward are a perfect match of writer and actor. If one is into this sort of thing, "Star Quality" is near perfection. If you're asking, "What is 'this sort of thing?'" it's a pretty safe bet you won't care much for it.

Star Quality feels like one giant woman-bashing gab fest between Noel Coward and himself. I can't imagine anyone actually enjoying this play except men who actively dislike women. It all centers around a playwright who watches the casting, rehearsals, and opening night of his latest creation. Susannah York plays the dramatic diva in the leading role, and half the play is devoted to criticizing or making fun of her behavior. The other half picks apart the other actresses in rehearsal, and allows the male members of the staff to make biting, "clever" remarks about women in general.

Unless you love watching dated tv movies that feel like live plays, or you love making fun of bad production values and rolling your eyes at stereotypes, I would suggest avoiding Star Quality. I watched it for Susannah York, but perhaps she even regretted making it. Yes she got top billing, but at what cost?

This choice theatrical memoir is a particular pleasure in the newly released Noel Coward DVD album - in the same genre as 'Hay Fever' and 'Present Laughter' but, perhaps, a little closer to the real theatre of the middle 20th century. Peter Chelsom is nigh perfect as the daunted author of a new play starring stormy, seductive, spankable Susannah York as a grade-A bitch of a leading actress and directed by a magnificently witty, sardonic Ian Richardson: but all are eclipsed by that sly scene-stealer David Yelland as Richardson's deliciously camp and perceptive catamite Tony. The other roles - Pam Ferris as York's slave and David Swift as the producer are near to caricature,but by the end I was taking it seriously enough to be quite moved. Bravo, Master!