Fallen Angels

by Noël Coward

Julia & Fred and Willy & Jane are "happily married" (whatever that means) and the best of friends, until a postcard arrives with news of the imminent arrival of handsome Frenchman the wives once romanced. A farce with a hilarious drunk scene for two stylish comediennes.

Genres: Plays, Drama, Audiobook, Humor, Fiction, Theatre

1 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 1925

About the author

Sir Noël Peirce Coward was an English actor, playwright, and composer of popular music. Among his achievements, he received an Academy Certificate of Merit at the 1943 Academy Awards for "outstanding production achievement for In Which We Serve."

Known for his wit, flamboyance, and personal style, his plays and songs achieved new popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, and his work and style continue to influence popular culture. The former Albery Theatre (originally the New Theatre) in London was renamed the Noël Coward Theatre in his honour in 2006.

Reviews

[Sketchbook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia and Jane have been married ladies for five years. They suddenly learn that a saucy lover from the past is in town and wants to see them. Yes, they both had sex with him and it was great fun. Their husbands are away on a sporty weekend and they are itching to restart...well, whatever. What seemed shocking in 1925 is accepted human nature today...as Julia and Jane get drunk with glee and also panic as they face a teasing future. Sure, they love their husbands, but after five years they're not "in love" with them. Often called too fluffy, this comedy is bruisingly contemporary.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this may not be my favourite Noel Coward, but it was still very entertaining. I was especially fond of the end, which gave me a good laugh. Performances in the LA Theatre Works production all delivered. Definitely worth the read!

[Jake Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got to see a stage reading of this my friends put on. Probably my favorite Coward! So damn funny. And she’s much better than say Wildes Ernest. The pace to this is much more my style. Plus my friends are so talented it’s intimidating. Love love love high end classic British comedy. Genius.

[Ella (book.monkey) · Rating 4 out of 5]

really quite hilarious particularly the ending!

[Anton Segers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Luchtig als een zeepbel, deze situatiekomedie van Noël Coward, die als een minder scherpe Oscar Wilde de frustraties en spelletjes in het huwelijk op de hak neemt. De confrontatie tussen de 2 vriendinnen die zowel zusters in de zonde zijn als dodelijke concurrenten is geestig opgebouwd, de ontknoping valt dan weer tegen, is onwaarschijnlijk.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing after the previous attempt at making serious statements on art in Design for Living, I think Coward is at his best when he's being a frothy concoction. This farce involves two couples and a romantic Frenchman from the past of both of the wives. The camaraderie of the two wives at the play's start gives way to gentle sniping which amps itself up into outright warfare and the result is a lot of fun. The husbands are the weakest part of the play, being the usual sort of boring old duffers, though that's partly the point of the play -- they've sunk into that role as though it were their due for being middling good.

[Tim Pinckney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frothy and funny.

[Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hay Fever is my favorite, but in every case, Coward’s sensibility brings civilization in a funny book of manners.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

annette benning and judith ivey. what fun!

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ The premise is dated and awful. The dialogue is fun.

[Sophie Bloor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Posh people affair and a French man

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It could be entertaining on stage but I wasn’t blown away. Would need a big stage and some actors to really make themselves look ridiculous to pull off properly.

[Bayliss Camp · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reasonably funny, but also overwrought, reworking of “Merry Wives of Windsor.”

[Vladimiro Sousa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light and delightful play, a pleasant character play in which everything is in the dialogues. A wonderful little play.

[Michael P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic audio production of Coward's naughty comedy.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

lol

[Martha Bratton · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I hadn't checked again, and once more, I would have sworn this was an Oscar Wilde creation. It's so funny, and it's neat to hear Annette Bening and Ray Montegna doing British dialogue. I could picture every minute of this short, rollicking play, apparently recorded from an LA Theater Works production. I'm a fan and will look for more like this.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun - crazy and silly. Not quite as good as Hay Fever...but still very funny. A comedy about two "happily" married women whose former lover comes to town and throws them into chaotic insanity.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful musing on keeping up appearances, the importance of truth and a few too many cocktails. Not Cowards best work but provides snappy dialogue for two female characters and, as always, an air of complicated sophistication.

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The character of Saunders the maid steals the show. Two women with newer marriages go all a twitter when a lover from their younger years unexpectedly shows up. Ridiculous and clever questioning of love and marriage and the double standard of "sowing oats."

[Mona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silly, but funny little play. I giggled a lot while reading it.

[TerryJane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This play is an absolutely delightful comedy as well as a very quick read. Tickled my funny bone! I'd love to see this done in a local community theater.

[Kevin Greb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stage play. Was kinda cute.