Emmy, two-time Tony, Screen Actors Guild and Drama Desk winner Christine Baranski makes her West End debut as the iconic Judith Bliss, sparring with Academy Award nominated stage and screen legend Richard E. Grant in a stinging new production of Noël Coward’s irresistible comedy directed by Emily Burns.
Last year, Judith retired from her life-on-stage. Already, she misses the applause.
Idling away at their country home, the rest of the family – reclusive novelist husband David and failure-to-launch children Sorrel and Simon – are too self-involved to be a good audience.
So, Judith invites a young fan as her guest for the weekend. But unbeknownst to her, each of the Blisses have a guest of their own arriving at the very same time.
Completely unsuited to hosting and allergic to compromise, the house quickly erupts into a chaos of parlour games, put-downs and unrequested encores.
Captioned Performance:
Audio Described:
Access description: One 20cm step up to foyer through heavy double doors opening inwards. Box Office counter on the right. 18 steps down to Stalls. Staircases have handrails on both sides and some steps are highlighted. 12 steps up to the Royal Circle, 21 to the Upper Circle and approx. 43 to the Balcony with 2 steps between rows. Auditorium is carpeted – all other areas are tiled.
Sound Amplification: Infra-red system with 20 headsets. ID required. Collect headsets from the Cunard Bar which is a kiosk located at the bottom of the stairs from the foyer to the stalls. Induction loop at Box Office.
Guide Dogs: Guide dogs are allowed into the auditorium and staff are available to dog-sit in the foyer.
Disabled Access: 2 spaces in Box A but no access for electric wheelchairs or scooters. Maximm 2 wheelchair user patrons per performance.
Toilets: One toilet in the box although it would not be possible to access this in a wheelchair. The women’s off the Stalls has been slightly adapted. From the foyer bar, the men’s and women’s are up 8 steps with a further 2 steps down inside the entrance to each. 1 step down to non-adapted toilet accessed via St Martin’s Court (level access) – please ask staff to assist.
Disabled Toilets: None at present. Patrons can use adapted toilets at the Noel Coward theate behind the Wyndham's.