Noël Coward's "Fallen Angels" on Broadway
Chicago Tribune • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Broadway stars Kelli O’Hara and Rose Byrne deliver a standout performance as tipsy married women in Noël Coward’s 1925 comedy "Fallen Angels," showcasing a masterful and humorous portrayal of faux inebriation.
- Directed by Scott Ellis, the revival emphasizes specific physical comedy and slurred dialogue, creating an amusing and lively atmosphere at the Todd Haimes Theatre.
- "Fallen Angels," overshadowed by Coward’s more famous "Hay Fever," explores themes of marital restlessness and British societal repression in the 1920s, with a lighthearted take on romantic entanglements involving two couples and a charming Frenchman.
- The play also features a witty servant character, Saunders, played by Tracee Chimo, who adds humor through her knowing and spirited presence, embodying Coward’s use of clever servants as a comedic device.
- Overall, the production is a playful, swift one-act comedy that highlights the era’s social mores and the timeless complexity of desire and relationships.
