Rose Byrne and Kelli O'Hara lead a new Broadway revival of Noël Coward's comedy 'Fallen Angels' at the Todd Haimes Theatre [1].
This production marks a return to the New York stage for a play that has historically been rare in production—a piece of theatrical history that was banned in 1926 [3].
Coward's comedy first premiered in London in 1925 [1]. It later made its stateside premiere in 1927 [2]. Despite these early milestones, the play has only appeared on Broadway twice [4].
Critics have offered differing views on the quality of the revival. The Guardian described the production as a "pitch-perfect revival that sparkles like champagne," while Yahoo News called it a "lackluster Noël Coward revival," said the report [1, 5].
Regarding the style of the play, Noël Coward said, "Speak clearly, and don’t bump into the furniture" [5].
Byrne and O'Hara take center stage in this revival of a rarely produced comedy [6]. The production brings a 1920s era comedy to a modern New York audience at the Todd Haimes Theatre [1].
“"Speak clearly, and don’t bump into the furniture."”
The revival of 'Fallen Angels' represents a deeper dive into the early catalog of Noël Coward, moving beyond his most famous works to revive a rarely performed piece. The disparity in critical reception suggests a tension between the same high-profile celebrity casting of Rose Byrne and the traditional expectations of Coward's sharp, sophisticated comedy.
