fri 29/03/2024

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

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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SRB's footwork was quite magnificent.

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