Women behaving badly

Noel Coward was a prolific playwright publishing more than 50 of his own works during his lifetime. 'Blithe Spirit', 'The Importance of being Ernest', Hay Fever' and 'Private Lives' are just a few well known titles that regularly appear in production at local theatres around the country.

The Wilmslow Green Room has chosen one of his less well known but extremely funny comedies as its penultimate play of the season. 'Fallen Angels' is one of Coward's earlier plays and at the time it premiered in the mid-1920s, it shocked audiences for its outspokenness by women with regard to fidelity to their husbands.

The 'Fallen Angels' are pampered married women and best friends, Julia Sterroll (Emma Toms) and Jane Banbury (Lottie Tyler). They're bored with their respective wealthy husbands, Frederick (Richard Frost) and William (Al Fowkes) who are away on a golfing weekend. The girls reminisce about more exciting and passion-fuelled times from their younger days when they shared a French lover, Maurice Duclos (Martin Fitzgerald) prior to being married. They chat and bicker in the way only women can when there are no men around to hear them.

By the time the husbands arrive back from their golf, the wives have quarrelled. Hearing that the very subject of their conversation is about to arrive on their doorstep, Julia and Jane work themselves into a drunken state of excitement in anticipation of Maurice's arrival. Farcical disaster ensues, ably assisted by the know-it-all maid, Jasmine Saunders (Rianne Statom-Barnett).

Like many of Coward's works, 'Fallen Angels' combines sparkling dialogue with sharp observances on marital fidelity. Directed by Celia Bonner, the Wilmslow Green Room players are looking forward to welcoming you to this very funny production which runs from Saturday May 14th to Saturday May 21st.

Tickets can be purchased on Saturday mornings at the Green Room theatre between 10.30am and 12 noon or via the ticket hotline 01625 540933.

This is a member post by Hilary Pinnock.