Noel Coward was 39 years old when he played the lead role of Garry Essendine, a famous actor fearing for the future of his career as he enters middle age, in the premiere production of his rollickingly good comedy, PRESENT LAUGHTER. In order for that scenario to be believable today, you'd have to cast a woman in the role.
SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 08:36AM on April 6, 2017