Home & Beauty to Close Early 11 Jan 03

Home & Beauty to Close Early 11 Jan 03

Somerset Maugham's Home and Beauty, has posted early closing notices. The play, which was booking to 1 Mar, will now close 11 Jan 03 at the Lyric Theatre

The play received luke-warm notices from the popular press when it opened in Oct 02: DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "A sprightly boulevard comedy."THE TIMES says, "Luscombe plays it as full-throttle farce. It proves exhausting and makes the play seem more shockingly frivolous than subversive." THE INDEPENDENT says, "High-spirited, enjoyably over-the-top revival."THE GUARDIAN says, "A misguided production that seems to think the play was written by Feydeau rather than Somerset Maugham." THE FINANCIAL TIMES says, "Nothing about....Home and Beauty is remotely good, and afterwards the only sensible course should be to forget it with utmost speed." THE EVENING STANDARD says, "Gross, embarrassing and mirthyless."

The play, directed by Chris Luscombe, and starring Jamie Theakston, Victoria Hamilton, Alexander Armstrong concerns Major William Cardew, who is reportedly killed in the First World War. His wife then becomes romantically involved with his best friend and marries him. However, Cardew returns!!