DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER Brings Knockout FrenchFarce to the Arts Theatre

For Its Final Production for 2016, Adelaide Repertory Theatre presents
the fast and furious - yet sophisticated - Don't Dress for Dinner, by Marc Camoletti.

"It's a nifty comedy farce about double adultery and gourmet cooking...I can't think of a better way of forgetting the recession." - Sunday Times

"Hurtling along at the speed of light, this breathtaking farce is a near faultless piece of theatrical invention. Within seconds we are drawn into a delicious web of marital treachery which accelerates with classic symmetry to an all-star denouement." - The Guardian

From the author of Boeing-Boeing, Don't Dress for Dinner is a cautionary tale of the husband, the wife, the friend, the mistress, the cook and the jealous husband.

It's l'amour a la Francaise conducted with all the essentials of a successful affair - style, fashion and gourmet food all in a renovated farmhouse two hours from Paris.

The very French farce Don't Dress for Dinner by Marc Camoletti is a delicious confection of misunderstandings and confusion arising when a perfectly happily married couple, seek excitement outside the home. The play has been a hit around the world since it opened in London in 1991.

The cast features Bernard, (Peter Davies) a successful architect, who is happily married to Jacqueline (Georgia Stockham). Their marriage includes Bernard having a mistress and Jacqueline a lover, of which neither of them appear to be aware. They're a smart, sophisticated, witty and modern couple.

Bernard is planning a romantic weekend with his chic Parisian mistress, Suzanne (Caryn Rogers) in his charming convertEd French farmhouse, whilst his wife, Jacqueline, is away visiting her mother. He has arranged for a cordon bleu cook, Suzette (Rose Vallen) to prepare gourmet delights, and has invited his best friend, Robert, (Tim Taylor) who is Jacqueline's secret lover, along to provide the alibi.

It's a foolproof plan, surely; but with similar nicknames of Suzy for both the mistress and the cook, could something go wrong?

Anyway, the weekend progresses and Robert turns up not realizing quite why he has been invited and Jacqueline, dying to see her lover Robert again, decides not to leave for the weekend.

Things move quickly and become very confused especially when the cook has to pretend to be the mistress and the mistress, the cook.

Thinking on their feet Bernard and Robert, without losing any of their savoir faire, do their best to untangle the situation, but everyone's alibis get confused, especially by them, and after the appearance of Suzette's jealous husband, George (Stuart Pearce), it takes the smart, sexy Suzys to sort things out.

Don't Dress for Dinner, yes, we all understand the title now, could be surmised is fast paced, sophisticated theatre, spinning, as the Guardian reviewer wrote: "...a delicious web of marital treachery".

As director Norm Caddick said: "This farce isn't one of slamming doors and missed entrances, but more a verbal stoush with people misunderstanding who's who, what's being said and who knows what.

"This is a delight to direct and the cast and myself are all having a most enjoyable time working as an ensemble, and when the cast are enjoying the production then the audience will also find it infectious and have a great time - Don't Dress for Dinner is a fun finale for 2016."

At Adelaide Arts Theatre 53 Angas Street, Adelaide
Directed by:
Norm Caddick
The Cast:
Peter Davies, Georgia Stockham, Tim Taylor, Caryn Rogers. Rose Vallen, Stuart Pearce
The Season:
8pm Thur 17 Nov to Sat 19 Nov; Wed 23 Nov to Sat 26 Nov. Plus 2pm matinee Sat 26 Nov.
You can BOOK TICKETS here.
Tickets: Adult: $22 / Concession $17

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