Fallen Angels at Q Theatre

Fallen Angels at Q Theatre

This Noel Coward comedy pops the cork of Auckland Theatre Company’s 2014 season

It’s funny, frothy and sexy – perfect for a warm Summer evening in Auckland. The Auckland Theatre Company season of Noel Coward’s classic comedy Fallen Angels opens at Q Theatre on 15 February.

Starring Lisa Chappell and Claire Dougan, and directed by the debonair Raymond Hawthorne, Fallen Angels is a theatrical precursor to Desperate Housewives. The lead characters, Julia and Jane, could quite easily have been the muses for Absolutely Fabulous’ rambunctious Patsy and Eddie, and Coward’s writing the inspiration for Sex and the City’s sassy script.

Julia and Jane are two bored, upper-class English housewives, in passionless marriages. They have a neurotic sisterhood that's common to two women who have been in each other's lives since adolescence.

In earlier years, Julia and Jane shared the passions of a Frenchman – Maurice. When the Lothario announces his intention to pay them an impromptu visit (suitably, when their husbands are off playing golf), there’s only one thing to do: pop large quantities of champagne.

As each successive glass of liquid courage is imbibed, tongues loosen, hidden jealousies surface and claws come out. Will Maurice arrive? Will he favour one over the other? Will Julia and Jane’s long-standing friendship be mortally wounded? Will their husbands be suitably jealous?

Fallen Angels is a comedy of manners about England’s upper crust. When it first opened in 1925, Fallen Angels was attacked by theatre critics and morality campaigners for its frank depiction of women who had had premarital sex, got drunk and were prepared to commit adultery. The show is Coward at his inimitable best and the story treated as only Coward can – with biting hilarity topped off with moments of complete insanity.

Auckland Theatre Company Artistic Director, Colin McColl said, “In 1925 Coward was the toast of London with The Vortex, On with the Dance, Hay Fever and Fallen Angels all running simultaneously in West End theatres. The direction and design dream team of Raymond Hawthorne and Tracy Grant Lord bring their hallmark class and sophisticated style to this delicious comedy about the sexual shenanigans of the British upper crust.”

Subscriptions are now open for Auckland Theatre Company’s 2014 season. Subscribers are the first to hear about additional offerings and events throughout the year, before they are publically announced. This includes The Next Stage Festival of New Plays in Development, ATC’s youth development experience, Selecta, and the latest community event concept, Neighbourhood Theatre, at the Mangere Arts Centre. For more information or to order a copy of the 2014 season brochure, please visit www.atc.co.nz.

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