Gerri is like human hurricane who is surround by her “firm”, made up of husband Len, secretary Monty, producer Henrietta and publicist Morris. Everyone is drawn into the eye of the storm. Each part of the firm needs obviously Gerri and maybe that’s why they put up with her constant performance and Gerri obviously needs them. There is love and hate in equal measure, shared liberally to keep the Gerri Essendine Show on the road.

The time relocation works well. I was left wondering why not set it in present day – if feels like it could work. But, on reflection maybe it needed the 50-year distance to feed the farcical nature of the play.

There are some excellent performances particularly from James Dreyfus, who plays Gerri’s unflappable, sarcastic yet devoted secretary. His dry, barbed comments get the most laughs of the evening. Adrian Lukis plays Gerri’s non-resident husband, who always seems to be present when he is needed. Adrian demonstrates why he has often been nominated in the Olivier's as best actor. Commanding the stage and offering a calm balance to the madness that is Tracy-Ann’s portrayal of Gerri. Her performance keeps cast and audience on their toes. She might be playing a stereotypical character – but in the two-and-a-half-hour play you have no idea where she will go next in her melodrama! She certainly holds the attention. In the interval I heard a member of the audience utter “She’s not exactly Noel Coward” and I wanted to respond “Thank goodness!”