Present Laughter, a play by Noel Coward at the American Airlines Theatre, starring Victor Garber. It's only in previews but based on what we saw last night,Roundabout's revival of "Present Laughter" is a dreadful disaster. No one in the cast seemed to have a clue about the elegant Coward style so desperately called for, and their British accents were pathetic, everyone is guilty of eccentric over-acting. The usually reliable Victor Garber, who plays the role like a classic British "silly ass" misses the measure of the role completely. While Essendine is indeed an ass, he is not the Eric Blore kind of "silly ass" but is instead a flamboyant larger-than-life buffon who looms over the action dominating it with every outrageous line. Think of John Barrymore in "Twentieth Century" or the wonderfully hammy Frank Langella who was an excellent Gary Essendine in the last revival of "Present Laughter". If, according to the pre-opening buzz, Victor Garber actually wins a Tony for this performance, then it will set an ironic seal on what so far has been the weakest Broadway season in our memory. Broadway Bridge and Tunnel Test Grade F.