Noel Coward’s sparkling comedy Fallen Angels has always been a staple of community theatre groups, and with good reason. It’s a well written script with a couple of juicy parts for two dynamic leading ladies.
Amicus Productions is giving it a whirl this time out, and they are fortunate to have two terrific performers to bring the not-so-angelic central characters to life.
Heather Goodall is Julia, and Anne McDougall is Jane, the wives whose marriages have become a bit stale after ten years. The two old friends once had separate affairs with a dashing Frenchman, Maurice Duclos, a few years before they married their husbands. Now the husbands are away on a golf trip and ladies receive word that Maurice is coming to town. Too much champagne while awaiting his arrival leads to a little too much honesty and before long the two are at each other’s throats.
The contrast between the two helps elevate the humour: Goodall is refined type and it’s great fun to watch her let her inhibitions down. McDougall is a dowdier matron who plays the sloppiness of the drunken scenes without ever losing complete control. Since the two of them more or less have the stage to themselves for much of the second act, it is a testament to both actresses that we never tire of listening to them banter back and forth.
Once in while they are joined by Kay Montgomery as Saunders, Julie’s new maid with a story for every situation. It’s a delicious scene-stealing performance that enhances the work not only of Goodall and McDougall but also of every other character with whom she interacts.
The men get rather short shrift in Cowards script, departing after a short breakfast scene at the top and returning only in Act Three to discover the chaos too much champagne has wrought. The script really only allows the husbands to react, and as such both Derek Dory and Jeff Orchard do well enough. As does Raj Verma as the much talked about but only briefly seen Maurice Duclos.
Maureen Lukie has worked with the performers to create a totally natural environment for this comedy to unfold. The performances are casual, as if we are just eavesdropping on some private conversations. The ease with which the ladies glide from sober to tipsy to inebriated to hung-over is very carefully modulated.
Overall it is a thoroughly enjoyable production of a script that retains the effervescences of the finest champagne. A toast to all involved.
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Fallen Angels plays at Fairview Library Theatre, 35 Fairview Mall Drive, Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8pm until February 13. Tickets are $20 and available at www.amicusproductions.ca or by calling 416-860-6176.
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