Waiting in the Wings

Synopsis

"The Wings" is a charity home for retired actresses. Here these aged ladies grow older ungracefully amidst squabbles, jealousies and grandiose memories. The once-great actress Lotta Bainbridge arrives; years ago she married the ex-husband of one of the inmates, May Davenport, and her arrival sparks off a feud. It is only resolved when one deranged old lady sets fire to her room. After this tragedy, Lotta and May spend what little time is left to them in peace and harmony.

Our Review:

Andrew Girvan - 6 September 2010

The fiftieth anniversary production of Waiting in the Wings fits well into Hampstead's Pentameters Theatre, creating the lounge of the 'The Wings home for retired actresses' in cosy surroundings.

It is the cast of older ladies who really make this piece what it is, and so hard to revive. The levels of their performances vary, but the piece is held together by the relationship between Juliet Aykroyd and Frances Cuka as the warring actresses who overcome their differences after 30 years of fighting over the same man.

Coward's humour shows itself to be timeless, with some particularly funny lines littered amongst the ladies' obsessive reflections on playing ingénue roles in their youth, the fact that they are now at the mercy of their charity home's committee and the increasing senility of those around them.

The performances of the older cast are impressively truthful, with Juliet Aykroyd particularly impressive in the third ac...

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