With She Loves Me currently running at its home base, Travesties and David Baddiel: My Family Not the Sitcom to open shortly in the West End, and Funny Girl in rehearsals ahead of a major national tour, the Menier Chocolate Factory today announces principal casting for their major new revival of Terence Rattigan’s Love in Idleness. Trevor Nunn directs Eve Best (Olivia Brown), Edward Bluemel (Michael Brown), Helen George (Diana Fletcher) and Anthony Head (Sir John Fletcher). The production opens on 20 March, with previews from 9 March, and is running until 29 April.
Priority booking for Chocolate Factory members for Love in Idleness is open, with public booking from 9am on 1 February.
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 and Idleness with Lettice and Lovage opening on 17 May, with previews from 4 May, and completing its run on 8 July.
Terence Rattigan’s (1911 – 1977) major works include The Deep Blue Sea, The Browning Version, Separate Tables, French without Tears and The Winslow Boy.
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