'Fallen Angels' spins comedy confection in Spring Green, Wisconsin

Regina Belt-Daniels, Shaw Local News Network

In celebration of Noël Coward’s 125th birthday, American Players Theatre brings his farcical “Fallen Angels” to its amphitheater just over the Illinois border into Wisconsin. Mistaken identities and physical comedy abound in a play reminiscent of 1930s Hollywood musicals and screwball comedies with a touch of glamour and style.

Coward fearlessly addresses women’s freedom, intimacy and class structure, topics relevant at the time in his native England, and remaining so today around the world. As character Fred glibly remarks, “It was simpler for the women – they didn’t know so much.“

Deftly directed by Shannon Cochran, the show moves quickly and is well cast, especially with the two actresses who play Julia and Jane. The amount of dialogue and expertly executed physical comedy these two are responsible for is delivered flawlessly. The chemistry between the two actresses, Phoebe González and Laura Rook (her 13th APT season), is obvious.

The production is staged in the 1,075-seat Hill Theatre. Cochran’s creative team utilizes the open-air stage well and encompasses the 1930s – in costumes (from beautiful gowns to plus fours golf knickers) by Fabio Toblini, and in striking set design by Scott Penner, all in ivory hues, right down to Coward’s customary baby grand piano. Physical movements are smoothly executed, and at times humorously, thanks to the direction of Jeb Burris. Sara Becker acts as voice and text coach aiding in credible upper-class British, Irish and French. I marveled at the lighting design by Dawn Chiang – outdoors on those high towers.

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