A brand new version of Noel Coward's Present Laughter is staged at Milton Keynes Theatre from Monday (July 11), and there is an exemplary cast in place to do it justice.
Samuel West has a career that is prolific, colourful and varied – from his many stage visits with the RSC to big screen work spanning Howards End to Notting Hill and Van Helsing.
On the small screen too, West is a winner, with roles in Midsummer Murders, Waking the Dead, and Any Human Heart.
More recently, he was a popular Sunday evening staple in the Total MK abode, as Frank Edwards in the glowing Mr Selfridge series.
West is the son of acting royalty, Timothy West and Prunella Scales, who have also coloured up Sunday evening's on the small screen in recent times – their travelling adventures on the water in Channel 4's Great Canal Journeys is one of the easiest, warmest and most engaging shows in far too long.
But enough of that for now.
In Present Laughter, Samuel is Garry Essendine. Actor, charmer and diva.
He is determined to disregard his advancing years – and receding hair line – by revelling in endless tantrums and casual affairs.
But just as he is about to leave for Africa he is besieged by a bevvy of would-be seductresses, and that's aside from his long-suffering secretary, his estranged wife and an obsessed young playwright.
As Garry attempts to disentangle himself from their clutches and demands, so the humour increases, as does the delicious dialogue and sparkling repartee.
The role of his acerbic secretary Monica is taken by multi award-winning Phyllis Logan, who has spent decades entertaining us with numerous credits herself, but until recent years, she was probably best known for her role in the BBCs Lovejoy.
And then along came Downton Abbey...
Phyllis was cast as Mrs Hughes, the housekeeper in the 'upstairs-downstairs' delivery, which has proven an immeasurable success stateside too.
But this from Monday, for six-day only, Milton Keynes gets two of the country's finest actors to ourselves.
Present Laughter shows nightly at 7.30pm, with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday, from 2.30pm.
To book tickets visit www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes
