REVIEW
Fallen Angels
Bright Young Things
Varscona Theatre Ensemble
Runs through to Saturday, Dec. 1
Varscona Theatre
10329 – 83 Ave.
Tickets: $37 to $42. Visit www.varsconatheatre.com
“It seems so unfair men would have the monopoly of sowing wild oats,” moans a character in Fallen Angels, a Noel Coward comedy dealing with two socialites planning to embark on an affair with an old flame.
As with all of Coward’s romantic comedies, it deals with the well-heeled British upper classes, heterosexual couples that worship style and panache, yet willingly flaunt society to fulfil their illicit desires.
The era is 1925 and upper crust wives sampling on the side are considered devoid of feminine morality. However, Julia Sterroll (Belinda Cornish) and Jane Banbury’s (Vanessa Sabourin) five-year marriages have reached a plateau. The fireworks have fizzled and the duo is “ripe for a relapse.”
The best friends are still infatuated with Maurice (Mark Meer), a French lover they shared passionate affairs with for seven years in Italy and France prior to marrying a couple of dull, obtuse English gentlemen.
Maurice is planning a visit to London, and his imminent arrival sends the BFFs into a frenzied hot-blooded lather. Expecting him to make an appearance, they dress up in frothy evening gowns and nonchalantly attempt to have a quiet dinner that devolves into chaos.
In a bold drunk scene, the two women become progressively plastered moving from gulping martinis to knocking back champagne. As the inebriation spikes, the best friends, also jealous rivals, lose their social veneer and spit nasty insults at one another.
They enjoy a neurotic friendship with Julia as the dominant partner who throws her weight around the scatty, overly dramatic Jane.
Cornish and Sabourin spar eloquently and their verbal comedic timing hits the nail on the head. It is matched only by their physical inventiveness as they stumble through the epic bender.
One of the funniest episodes is seeing Sabourin’s anguished expression as she dizzily tries to untwist her body from a telephone cord. All the while a groggy-looking Cornish totters while walking on high heels, appears to fall and overcompensates.
Much of Fallen Angels' success is due to this powerful cast’s impeccable chemistry and craftsmanship. Added to the mix is a know-it-all, wisecracking maid, Saunders, played by Rachel Bowron, a true triple threat. Saunders sings, plays piano and generally steamrolls her uppity employers with a confident, puckish charm.
Meer’s Maurice only appears in the final scene and is every bit the overconfident swarthy, French lover. Meanwhile Coward relegates the witless husbands, Fred Sterroll (John Ullyatt) and Willy Banbury (Nathan Cuckow), to straight man roles where they huff, puff and pout and allow the wives to gain an upper hand.
Director Marianne Copithorne keeps the play moving briskly and takes it straight to the edge without allowing it to become ham-handed. And the set is a bright, airy flat that oozes wealth and understated elegance.
Fallen Angels opened in 1925, but it is far from being a doddering stage production. In fact, it’s a refreshing change to see a high-quality show that is rarely performed.
Ultimately, it’s a fizzy concoction about friendship, sex and morality – especially when it takes a swat at male hypocrisy. Best of all, you’ll be laughing long after the show is over.
Fallen Angels is a Bright Young Things production playing at Varscona Theatre until Dec. 1.
