Can two bored housewives get away with adultery? I was about to find out in TheatreWorks' "Fallen Angels" production. Noel Cowards' farce centers around one central idea - that sex is something to be enjoyed - but preferably with someone other than your husband.
The main story centers around Julia (played by Sarah Overman) and Jane (played by Rebecca Dines) - two bored housewives living in 1920s London, England. Although they married for five years, they both had a secret, pre-marital love affair with the same French gentleman. When they discover Maurice, the highly desirable and sexy Frenchman, is coming to London (while their husbands are conveniently away at a golf retreat), they get wild and giddy with anticipation.
From the early beginning of the play, Julia makes it abundantly clear to her husband Fred (played by Mark Phillips) that the passionate part of their marriage is over:
In a separate scene with Jane, the same sort of intercourse occurs with Jane's husband - Willy (played by Cassidy Brown). Jane convinces herself that she is no longer "in love" with her husband. There's a kind of divine symmetry that whatever happens to one couple eventually happens to the other. Finally, when the housewives fight among themselves, we learn that their husbands quarrel.
When their husband departs for golf, Jane visits Julia's residence and tells her that Maurice is coming this week (any day now). At first, the wives think about fleeing to preserve their self-respect and dignity since they both know they cannot resist Maurice's charms. However, they eventually convince each other to stay and enjoy Maurice's company. They even change their daily clothes for evening wear to appear more enticing (anticipating Maurice's eventual arrival). Ooh, La La!
While these discussions continue, Jane's classy, sassy maid Saunders (or Jasmine), played by Tory Ross, provides endless flashes of amusement with her golf, piano, French, and bartending knowledge. She seems aware of all that's happening but plays along cheerfully.
The song "Meme Les Anges" is played frequently by the girls, Saunders, and their husbands and arouses profound emotions - sometimes intense pleasure, sometimes pain:
From the early beginning of the play, Julia makes it abundantly clear to her husband Fred (played by Mark Phillips) that the passionate part of their marriage is over:
Fred: I think it's awful silly of people to lead unhappy lives, don't you?She explains that although she loves Fred, she is no longer "in love" with him. Nevertheless, Jane tries to convince herself that she is happy with her marriage and everything is as it should be.
Julia: We're not in love a bit now, you know.
In a separate scene with Jane, the same sort of intercourse occurs with Jane's husband - Willy (played by Cassidy Brown). Jane convinces herself that she is no longer "in love" with her husband. There's a kind of divine symmetry that whatever happens to one couple eventually happens to the other. Finally, when the housewives fight among themselves, we learn that their husbands quarrel.
When their husband departs for golf, Jane visits Julia's residence and tells her that Maurice is coming this week (any day now). At first, the wives think about fleeing to preserve their self-respect and dignity since they both know they cannot resist Maurice's charms. However, they eventually convince each other to stay and enjoy Maurice's company. They even change their daily clothes for evening wear to appear more enticing (anticipating Maurice's eventual arrival). Ooh, La La!
While these discussions continue, Jane's classy, sassy maid Saunders (or Jasmine), played by Tory Ross, provides endless flashes of amusement with her golf, piano, French, and bartending knowledge. She seems aware of all that's happening but plays along cheerfully.
The song "Meme Les Anges" is played frequently by the girls, Saunders, and their husbands and arouses profound emotions - sometimes intense pleasure, sometimes pain:
Even the angels succumb to love
So this is why I beg you
God who arranges comings and goings,
Grant me just an hour of paradise.
All my loves seem to me like flowers,
Their perfume still remains sweet –
Give me your lips,your soul, and your heart,
Because it’s madly that I love you – I love you – I love you!
During this time, the girls eat dinner and consume vast quantities of liquor and wine. Healthy consumption of alcohol seems to release their inner inhibitions (and private thoughts). Any telephone call or a doorbell ring provokes intense competition and jealousy - to be first to talk to Maurice. Inevitably, the girls get terribly drunk and quarrel among themselves.
To provoke Jane's jealousy, Julia leaves her company "to visit Maurice." Jane thinks this is a ploy to encourage her (which it is), but as time passes, Julia's ploy starts to look believable.
Things get messy when Willy returns from the golf game (ahead of schedule) and finds that Julia is missing. Jane tells him about Julia's love affair with Maurice, but Willy is unwilling to believe it. Since neither knows where Julia might be, they leave together to search for her.
While Jane and Willy are out looking for her, Julia returns. A moment later, Fred returns (from his golf game) to find Julia (but not Jane there). Julia reveals Jane's indiscretions to Fred, who has difficulty believing them.
Eventually, all the couples are reunited and seems to be going well until Maurice shows up. Being a cunning playboy, he convinces Fred and Willy that this was an elaborate ploy to make them jealous - as wives do not like to be taken for granted.
Both Fred and Willy accept Maurice's explanations (as they seem more believable than the preposterous truth). However, the girls get the last laugh (as Maurice moves in next door). Ha!
Fred and Willy play the roles of clueless husbands who cannot imagine the shenanigans their wives are up to. Do they realize how well they've been hoodwinked?
To provoke Jane's jealousy, Julia leaves her company "to visit Maurice." Jane thinks this is a ploy to encourage her (which it is), but as time passes, Julia's ploy starts to look believable.
Things get messy when Willy returns from the golf game (ahead of schedule) and finds that Julia is missing. Jane tells him about Julia's love affair with Maurice, but Willy is unwilling to believe it. Since neither knows where Julia might be, they leave together to search for her.
While Jane and Willy are out looking for her, Julia returns. A moment later, Fred returns (from his golf game) to find Julia (but not Jane there). Julia reveals Jane's indiscretions to Fred, who has difficulty believing them.
Eventually, all the couples are reunited and seems to be going well until Maurice shows up. Being a cunning playboy, he convinces Fred and Willy that this was an elaborate ploy to make them jealous - as wives do not like to be taken for granted.
Both Fred and Willy accept Maurice's explanations (as they seem more believable than the preposterous truth). However, the girls get the last laugh (as Maurice moves in next door). Ha!
Fred and Willy play the roles of clueless husbands who cannot imagine the shenanigans their wives are up to. Do they realize how well they've been hoodwinked?
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