A forgotten gem in the crown of the great British playwright, Noël Coward’s Fallen Angels delights in its delicious and delectable sin. This new production at the Menier Chocolate Factory Theatre is a witty and entertaining romp that does not pretend that this play is a poster child for feminism, which it is not, yet still manages to add nuance and strength to its two female protagonists, maintaining all the comedy at its disposal.
The play follows Julia (Janie Dee) and Jane (Alexandra Gilbreath) for an evening of mayhem as they both wait impatiently for an ex-lover, getting steadily more drunk as they do so. A lesson in perfect casting, Dee and Gilbreath contrast and compliment each other gloriously, with Dee’s Julia maintaining a facade of sophistication and wisdom, while Gilbreath’s Jane represents a woman driven to madness by the promise of uninhibited sexuality. They are two sides of the same coin, victims of a patriarchal double standard that does not forgive unabashed sexual desire, revelling in the promise of something more. The structure of Act II reveals the indisputable skill of Dee and Gilbreath of maintaining witty and perfectly timed comedy throughout a descent into drunken chaos. And yet, Director Christopher Luscombe ensures these two women maintain a rationality that prevails over their ignorant and almost idiotic husbands; despite being driven mad by sexuality, their characters are altogether consistently more likeable and intelligent than the male mouthpieces for tradition and reason.
A perfect third ingredient to this concoction is Saunders (Sarah Twomey) whose presence assures us of Coward’s comic genius, throwing in the irony of the lowest-class character being the most well-educated. Twomey’s delivery of this running gag, playing piano and speaking French, is crafted to perfection. A particular highlight is the utterly ridiculous balletic interlude that is used to change from Act I to II, where Twomey’s excellent grasp of comic physicality as well as genuine talent for dance shines through. The attention to detail here is the cherry on top of a well-crafted cake, as Twomey seems to accidentally drop a flower on the floor that is later tied into the dance itself, and becomes the final touch to the scene change. Twomey is genuinely brilliant; the smallest raise of an eyebrow or nod of the head had this audience in fits of laughter, and this character is a necessary foil to the hyperactive anxiety of Jane and Julia in Act II.
Enhanced by wonderful design across the board, this production shone in its balance between elegance and ridiculousness. The costuming, by Fotini Dimou, was a particular highlight, juxtaposing the grace and intricacies of the ladies’ eveningwear with the visual comedy of the gentlemen’s high socks, yet not leaning too much into any utterly farcical patterns or silhouettes (apart from perhaps Jane’s feathered headpiece).
This production was as brilliant as it was ridiculous, and was underscored by incredible design and well-balanced comedy. Christopher Luscombe ensures these two women are as likeable as they are utterly mad over the promise of ‘violent emotion,’ while their husbands remain wilfully ignorant of the reality of their wives’ needs.
Review by Gina Stock
First performed exactly 100 years ago, Noël Coward’s outrageous comedy Fallen Angels remains one of his funniest creations.
Best friends Jane and Julia, now settled in happy marriages, receive an unexpected visit from a glamorous ex-boyfriend, and passions are rekindled with explosive results.
Cast:
Julia Steroll – Janie Dee
Jane Banbury – Alexandra Gilbreath
Bill Banbury – Christopher Hollis
Fred Steroll – Richard Teverson
Saunders – Sarah Twomey
Maurice Duclos – Graham Vick
Creative
Director – Christopher Luscombe
Set Designer – Simon Higlett
Costume Designer – Fotini Dimou
Lighting Designer – Oliver Fenwick
Sound Designer – Adam Cork
Music – Nigel Hess
Wigs, Hair and Makeup – Betty Marini
Movement – Nicola Keen
FALLEN ANGELS
By Noël Coward Menier Chocolate Factory
21 November 2025 to 21 February 2026
