'The Vortex' was an early Coward play, dark in tone, and disturbing in its depiction of families being torn apart, drug abuse, and mother love. Short in length - 70 minutes - this adaptation sparkles with menace and benefits greatly from fine performances from Margaret Leighton as the mother, young at heart but not in body, and Richard Warwick as Nicky, the dissolute, confused son, jealous, shallow, and uncaring - but nonetheless displaying a heart set to crack.
Coward's lines are spot on, barbed and perfectly aimed at his targets in high society. The play is heightened in tone and emotion, but not necessarily so, and as an early colour TV production, it still looks modern and relevant. Well worth watching.