WIT, said Noel Coward, ought to be a glorious treat like caviar; it should never be spread about like marmalade.

And from September 10-20, Bermudian theatregoers can treat themselves to some of Coward's wittiest and most engaging dialogue when the Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society stages his evergreen comedy Present Laughter at Hamilton's Daylesford Theatre.

A legendary playwright, actor, songwriter and filmmaker, Present Laughter remains one of Sir Noel Coward's most memorable works. The BMDS production is being directed by renowned British director Jane McCulloch, Artistic Director of Opera UK. The play is Sir Noel's semi-autobiographical rumination on what Ms. McCulloch describes as "our cult of celebrity".

Ms McCulloch explained her own longstanding relationship with Bermuda as well as the upcoming play.

Ms. McCulloch said: "I've directed quite a lot here and brought my own shows out since 1992, when I first came to Bermuda. I first came here to do a play for the Bermuda Festival about Roosevelt and Churchill and that was the start of my Bermuda connection.

"Following that I was asked by BMDS to come and direct some productions for them. I'd fallen in love with Bermuda by then and said yes, but added that what I'd like to do as a professional director is to start directing major classics.

"We started off with The Cherry Orchard and that was terrific. The next year I did a Rattigan play The Deep Blue Sea.

"Then I did Hay Fever, by Noel Coward, and I was a bit nervous about doing Noel Coward material.

"Noel Coward writes in such a high, stylish way and it's very difficult to play sophisticated comedies. But what's great is we have such tremendous acting talent in Bermuda. There is an enormous amount of talent here and Hay Fever really worked."

Ms. McCulloch notes that only actors of tremendous skill can pull off a Noel Coward play with aplomb and said: "When I was asked to come back this time and do another play I thought, 'Well why not do another Noel Coward' and Present Laughter is a wonderful play to do.

"The play is semi-biographical. It's Noel Coward himself. He is writing about his love of the theatre and his whole ethos about it. It is very fast paced and full of wit and charm. It is a challenge and I'm very lucky to have local actor Richard Fell for the lead role."

A thinly disguised version of Coward himself, Present Laughter's lead character is the self-obsessed actor Garry Essendine.

As he prepares to travel for a touring commitment, Garry must deal with interruptions from numerous women who want to seduce him, placate his long-suffering secretary, avoid his estranged wife and overcome his fear of a pending mid-life crisis.

Ms McCulloch said veteran Bermuda actor Richard Fell was bringing dimension and depth to his portrayal of the aging matinee idol.

"Richard Fell is a consummate actor and is totally right for this role," said Ms McCulloch. "And that is an enormous relief because to have him at the centre will affect all the other, less experienced actors."

She also praised Bermuda stage veterans Kelvin Hastings-Smith and John Ross for performances in the upcoming production. Ms McCulloch noted: "There is a very funny duo of the two producers played by Kelvin Hastings-Smith and John Ross. They are great together and I think it's a great double act and they should find more things to do together because they are very funny together."

Ms McCulloch said that Bermuda has a high degree of talent that she treats as professionals and said: "I've never been back to somewhere so often. Usually I don't do a place more than once, but I really fell in love with Bermuda when I first got here. I treat Bermuda (theatre) as a professional company. It just is with the working ways of the talent here. All the talent is here that you get in a professional company and the only thing that is lacking in some people are experience and technique. That can be imparted and I find that you certainly have as much talent as a professional theatre company anywhere."

Ms McCulloch spoke about working with accomplished Bermudian actor Stephen Notman who is playing the character Roland Maule, a pompous and somewhat crazed young playwright, in the upcoming production.

She said "He is a good actor and the role is outside his comfort zone but I know he can do it."

Mr. Notman described working with the famed director and said of his upcoming role: "I have been in about 20 productions between Bermuda, Canada and the UK. Up until now I have never had the opportunity to explore the fine wit of our dear departed Noel Coward but that is changing under the direction of Jane McCulloch. someone who is perfectly suited to the task of educating me.

"There was an evening when Jane and I sat down for half an hour together and chatted about my character, Roland. It was not so much an in-depth study of the script, just a few insights and pleasant conversation, really.

"But when we rehearsed together that night, something had changed. We have a long way to go to flesh out and refine that character, but Jane only needed a few minutes to plant the seeds that will become the character you will see on stage and she did it in a way such that the actor feels valued and respected. It's been wonderful working with her so far."

Mr. Notman also said that working with veteran actor Richard Fell has had a positive impact on him and that overall "we have a very strong cast, some of whom I have never had the chance to work with before. I am particularly glad to be working with Richard Fell who performed in a play with Nigel Kermode called The Dresser about 20 years ago.

"I was a mere pup back then but those lads inspired me to try out this acting stuff.

"He's proven to be great fun to work with and a mountain of positive energy, not to mention adept at learning a Hamlet-sized number of lines."

Describing the upcoming play Ms McCulloch said: "Noel Coward created style and that's what this play is about.

"The interesting thing about this play is that it's about the cult of celebrity. This man is at the centre of all these people who are star struck and everybody loves, monopolises and makes demands of him.

"And when he becomes a man behaving badly it causes ripples and thereon hangs the plot. It's an interesting piece in that way because Coward was almost ahead of his time in anticipating this star-struck society in which we live. It is timeless humour.

"It's a play built purely around words. There is not a lot of action or silly business or farce. The comedy comes from the wit and repartee.

"This is a great spoof of theatre. It really is Coward saying 'Theatre people are totally obsessed with theatre to the exclusion of all else.' So when their lives are falling apart and their mistresses and wives are leaving all they can think about is where they can have the next play put on. It's really Coward, with his tongue in his, cheek saying theatre people are impossible."

Speaking as to what the future holds Ms. McCulloch said: "In September I am returning to England to take the job of Artistic Director of an Opera company- Opera UK so I thought this would be my last opportunity to come out to Bermuda and enjoy the whole island and direct Present Laughter."