The Vortex was Noel Coward's first commercial hit for the theatre. It also went head on with censorship issues of the day.
The plays deals with adultery, drug taking and latent homosexuality.
Margaret Leighton looking like Fanny Craddock is the ageing socialite Florence Lancaster. Totally deluded that men half her age lust after he when they are using her to social climb into high society. Her latest conquest is Tom Veryan who is now showing signs of getting bored with her.
Her friend Helen tells Florence thar she should act her age and be with her husband. Florence dismissing her that her husband is old and she is not, even though she is just an older woman heavily made up.
The catalyst is her musician son Nicky who returns after a year in Paris. He is engaged to Bunty and both have left a bohemian lifestyle in Paris. Tom has become a drug addict.
Florence has thrown a party for them and Tom is also invited as one of the guests. Only to Nicky's disgust, Bunty and Tom turn out to be old friends. Nicky suspects they were once lovers.
Alone Tom tells Bunty that Nicky is not her type. Alluding to him being effeminate for her.
The party ends in disarray when Florence catches Tom kissing Bunty. By this time Nicky has ended his engagement with Bunty.
Although made in 1969 in colour. I expected this to be a creaky Noel Coward piece. It felt refreshing modern. The template of this drama could easily work in an updated setting.
Only the ending looked low key. Both mother and son hope to change and do better. Both are addicts and you cannot give up addiction that easily.