<p>Among those performing in "Present Laughter" are, from left, Mark Johnson (seated); Slab Slabinski, Sue Meyers, Winston Lazlo and Jenni Tronier. "Present Laughter" opens tonight and plays through April 19 at the Coaster Theatre.</p>

Noel Cowards Present Laughter is the latest play to come to the Coaster Theatre stage.

Opening March 14 and continuing through April 19, Present Laughtera is a comical farce written by Noel Coward in 1939 and first staged on tour in 1942. The plays title comes from a song in Shakespeares Twelfth Night, which urges us to seize the day present mirth hath present laughter.

The play follows a few days in the life of the successful, yet self-obsessed, comedy actor Garry Essendine, (a character Coward based on himself) as he prepares for a performance tour in Africa. In the midst of a series of farcical events that occur during the play, Garry has to deal with women who are obsessed with him, his long-suffering secretary and his estranged wife, cope with a crazed young playwright and overcome his impending midlife crisis.

In the cast

Mark Johnson takes on the lead role of Garry Essendine. His first theater appearance was in 1997 in the Tillamook Association for the Performing Arts production of The Odd Couple. Since then, he has played numerous roles ranging from Elwood P. Dowd in Harvey and James Tyrone Jr., in Moon for the Misbegotten.

Sue Myers, manager of the Lands End Motel, will play Liz Essendine. She has more than 20 years experience acting, singing and dancing in both community and professional theater companies. Her most recent appearance at the Coaster was as Betty Haynes in White Christmas.

Cast as Joanna Lyppiatt, Jenni Tronier is performing in her second show at the Coaster. Last summer, she appeared as Gwendolyn in The Importance of Being Earnest. Tronier attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Circle in the Square Theatre School in New York. She also serves as the marketing director for the Coaster Theatre.

Richard Bowman is Rolland Maule. Bowman has been involved with the Coaster Theatre for the past six years, most recently appearing as Bob Wallace in White Christmas. Other shows include Around The World In 80 Days, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to the Forum, The Importance Of Being Earnest and Gramercy Ghost.

Playing the role of Daphne Stillington is Amanda Payne. Present Laughter is her ninth show at the Coaster Theatre beginning with My Fair Lady. Her most recent appearance was as Susan Wavery in White Christmas. When not on stage, she is behind the counter at Jewelry by Sharon Amber.

Sheila Shaffer appears as Miss Erikson. Shaffer lives in Astoria and has made the Coaster her theatrical home for the past 12 years. Previous roles have included Miss Hannigan in Annie, Agnes Gooch in Auntie Mame and Snoopy in Youre a Good Man Charlie Brown. She has also directed nine Coaster Theatre productions.

The role of Fred is played by Jean Rice. Her first appearance at the Coaster was as Chelsea in On Golden Pond in 1998, and last year she was cast in four of the seven productions.

Many will recognize Pia Shepherd as Monica Reed. She has appeared in numerous Coaster productions, including Three Viewings, Enchanted April, The Cemetery Club, The Gin Game, Arsenic and Old Lace, Veronicas Room and Fiddler on the Roof. She has also performed at Astorias River Theatre and received two Best Actress awards at American Association of Community Theater festivals.

Slab Slabinski plays Morris Dixon. The token retired Coastie in the group, Slabinski also appeared in White Christmas, Gramercy Ghost, Around the World in 80 Days and Scrooge! The Musical.

Hugo Lyppiatt is portrayed by Winston Laszlo. Laszlo has been active on the Coaster Theatre stage since 2004, when he played a lovesick suitor in Moon Over Buffalo. Most recently, he appeared in 84 Charing Cross Road and as the iconic old miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, in The Coasters 2012 Christmas production, Scrooge! The Musical.

Playwright: Noel Coward was a British playwright, actor and songwriter. An actor from age 12, he wrote light comedies between acting jobs, but it was a serious drama, The Vortex (1924), that established his reputation as a playwright. He is known for his classic comedies Hay Fever (1925), Private Lives (1930), Design for Living (1933), Present Laughter (1939), and Blithe Spirit (1941).

Coward often wrote for and performed with his close friend, Gertrude Lawrence.

Crew members include: George Dzundza, director; Margaret Page, stage manager; Patrick Lathrop, the Coasters executive director and costume designer for Present Laughter; Dmitri Swain, set designer/painter; Mick Alderman, lighting designer; and Nancy McCarthy, lighting and sound operator.