London Assurance, National Theatre | reviews, news & interviews
London Assurance, National Theatre
London Assurance, National Theatre
Terrific starry revival of Boucicault's comedy of Regency London manners
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Simon Russell Beale and Fiona Shaw: Stupendous as self-deluded Sir Harcourt and Lady Gay Spanker, who speaks entirely in hunting metaphorsCatherine Ashmore
For the life of me I cannot understand why London Assurance is not performed more often. It’s a rollicking comedy, written in 1841 but which has a Restoration heart, with a cast list that includes a wideboy named Dazzle, a valet Cool, a servant Pert, a lawyer Meddle and - hold your sides - a horsey broad brandishing a whip named Lady Gay Spanker. Calm down, now.
For the life of me I cannot understand why London Assurance is not performed more often. It’s a rollicking comedy, written in 1841 but which has a Restoration heart, with a cast list that includes a wideboy named Dazzle, a valet Cool, a servant Pert, a lawyer Meddle and - hold your sides - a horsey broad brandishing a whip named Lady Gay Spanker. Calm down, now.
Their marriage is as much a financial as romantic contract and we see that not all happy partnerships are about passion
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