With Travesties and David Baddiel: My Family Not The Sitcom taking up residence in the West End, and Funny Girl on the road as part of a major national tour, the Menier Chocolate Factory has today announced the West End transfer of their current critically acclaimed revival of Terence Rattigan’s Love In Idleness.
Trevor Nunn directs Eve Best (Olivia Brown), Edward Bluemel (Michael Brown), Anthony Head (Sir John Fletcher), Vivienne Rochester (Miss Dell) and Nicola Sloane (Polton/Celia Wentworth). Helen George is unable to transfer with the production due to prior filming commitments.
The production plays a strictly limited season for just 50 performances, opening on 18 May at the Apollo Theatre, with previews from 11 May, and is running until 1 July. Tickets go on sale to Menier Chocolate Factory members today, with public booking opening on 29 March.
Returning from Canada after a four-year absence during the war, eighteen-year-old Michael is full of youthful ideology and leftist leanings. But he is shocked to find his widowed mother Olivia is now the mistress of cabinet minister Sir John Fletcher, enjoying a comfortable society life. When Michael and John clash, sparks fly and relationships are tested as everyone learns some difficult lessons in love.
This new production sees Nunn return to Rattigan, following the huge success of Flare Path, with another of the playwright’s trio of ‘war plays’, which also includes While The Sun Shines.
Nunn will follow Love In Idleness at the Menier Chocolate Factory with Lettice And Lovage opening on 17 May, with previews from 4 May, and completing its run on 8 July.