AS the players in this Noel Coward farce of 1930s morals and mores took the stage, the soccer scandal surrounding England captain John Terry was in full flow. And you couldn't help feeling watching this delightful nostalgic comedy that nothing is new.

In early productions, Coward played the leading man — dashing, debonair actor Garry Essendine — in a world of celebrity culture and infidelity among his 'team' and women friends, to the constant bewilderment of his servants in his opulent Chelsea home.

He's preparing to go on tour in Africa but finds himself in demand with his girlfriends, an estranged wife and a star-struck aspiring male writer.

Robert Bathurst, star of the popular TV series Cold Feet, gave a flawless egocentric performance in the role made famous by Coward, skilfully delivering The Master's devastatingly funny clipped one-liners.

The strong cast didn't let the pace flag for a second, especially in the finals scenes when the story became chaotic as everyone wanted to join Garry on the tour.