Review: Fallen Angels
@ Menier Chocolate Factory until February 21st 2026
Director: Christopher Luscombe
Writer: Noël Coward
Cast: Janie Dee, Alexandra Gilbreath, Richard Teverson, Christopher Hollis & Sarah Twomey
With its frank and open discussions of sex out of wedlock, female desire and adulterous behaviour, it’s little surprise that Coward’s Fallen Angels fell foul of the prudish censors when it debuted a century ago. Set over the course of 24 hours, the play centres on Julia and Jane, two old friends who receive notice that an ex-lover of both of theirs is in town and wishes to visit them. Now both happily comfortably married to their husbands, the pair of whom have gone away on a golfing weekend, the two consider how to deal with Maurice’s sudden and unexpected return, all while drinking heavily and trying not to let their insatiable lust get the better of them.
Though tame by today’s standards, it’s remarkable just how attuned to the needs of his two protagonists Coward is, and though his play is bawdy, laugh-a-minute silliness, he treats their desire and their rightful dissatification with their sexless marriages seriously. For all of the deft wit and playfulness, Coward respects these two women, which heightens the comedy. Janie Dee and Alexandra Gilbreath play to the audience marvellously in a style reminiscent of Edina and Patsy in Absolutely Fabulous, and Luscombe directs with a real sense of theatrical space and comic timing. The two leads are camp, catty and full of vigour, and when their friendship starts deteriorating in a gloriously drunken argument towards the end of the first act, it is some of the most hilarious theatre I’ve seen so far this year.
Unfortunately, this run of Fallen Angels is now finished and I doubt it will transfer (though a different production is playing Broadway soon), so I can’t exactly recommend it. Nonetheless, I wanted to get some quick thoughts down to acknowledge what a delightful time it was and to sing the praises of Dee and Gilbreath, both of whom are excellent. If it does transfer, or ever returns to the Menier, particularly with this cast, it’s a must see.
Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐