Fluffy but fun

Menier Chocolate Factory

A neglected Noel Coward comedy turns up at The Menier Chocolate Factory to appreciative reviews. Janie Dee and Alexandra Gilbreath provide plenty of laughs as two middle-aged married women whose sexual desires are stirred by the arrival of an ex-lover. There is even more fun when a maid played by Sarah Twomey appears in the second act.

[Links to full reviews are included but a number are behind paywalls and therefore may not be accessible]

4 stars

The Telegraph’s Dominic Cavendish welcomed it: ‘In Christopher Luscombe’s retro, stylish and delightful Menier revival, Janie Dee and Alexandra Gilbreath give us drunk-acting of the highest order.‘ He admitted: ‘the play’s charms are ephemeral, but as the forgivably badly behaved duo – a touch of Ab Fab avant la lettre – discover, resistance is futile.’

The Times‘ Clive Davis told us: ‘It’s light, it’s fluffy, it’s ridiculous, but when actresses of the calibre of Janie Dee and Alexandra Gilbreath are having so much fun in the lead roles, you’re happy to see them making merry.’

Laura Jones for BroadwayWorld declared: ‘It’s a night of humour, subtle longing and quietly sharp social observation. For those who appreciate well-crafted comedy with a vintage edge, Fallen Angels is a thoroughly enjoyable reminder of why Coward remains a master of the drawing-room farce.’

3 stars

The Guardian‘s Arifa Akbar wrote: ‘It is not as rich as Blithe Spirit or Private Lives, and a little one note, but it is impeccably performed, with shades of 1920s screwball comedy and excellent turns from Dee, who plays Julia as blithely imperious, and Gilbreath, who becomes more cackling and crude as she tips back the bubbles.’

For Tim Bano in The Standard: ‘Christopher Luscombe’s handsome take has plenty of good moments, and two strong central performances from Janie Dee and Alexandra Gilbreath, but it struggles to completely lift itself beyond being gently entertaining.’

Matt Wolf for LondonTheatre found: ‘Unfolding on an airy Art Deco set from Simon Higlett, and costumed to kill by Fotini Dimou, this iteration of the play is good fun’.

WhatsOnStage’s Sarah Crompton complained: ‘the obsession of the two friends…with their lost French love Maurice seems vaguely tiresome; their cleverness undermined by their passion.’ She continued: ‘Christopher Luscombe’s sparkling production does everything it can to paper over the cracks and disguise the occasional longueurs and it is blessed with two uproarious comic performances from Janie Dee and Alexandra Gilbreath as the frustrated and excitable pair.’

Dave Fargnoli for The Stage was lukewarm in his reaction: ‘Director Christopher Luscombe sets a plodding pace at the outset, underlying the tedium of the characters’ lives of leisure in contrast to the frantic chaos of the later scenes. The tone swerves from stultifying stiffness to outrageous absurdity as the wives scheme, bicker, and get absolutely trashed on champagne, leading to some fine moments of physical comedy which, while amusing, unavoidably pull against the extreme poise of Coward’s acerbic dialogue.’ But he did note:  ‘Sarah Twomey gives a scene-stealing turn as precocious servant Saunders’.

‘it’s a genteel museum piece’ said Time Out’s Andrzej Lukowski.

Critics’ average rating 3.3⭑

Fallen Angels is performing at The Menier Chocolate Factory until 21 February 2026. Buy tickets directly from the theatre

Read Paul Seven Lewis’ 5 star review of Fallen Angels 

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