"We Happy Few" to close early 31 July 2004

"We Happy Few" to close early 31 July 2004

Imogen Stubbs's new play We Happy Few, has posted early closing notices at the Gielgud for 31 July 2004, after a run of only 6 weeks! (The play was originally booking to 13 Nov 2004)

We Happy Few opened 2 July 2004, following previews 17 June 2004, to mixed notices from the popular press: NICHOLAS DE JONGH for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "..the performances are lovely. Yet the essential stuff of drama is missing...The evening becomes an aimless trawl." PAUL TAYLOR for THE INDEPENDENT says, "Heart-warming production." MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, "This is a rag-bag of a play." CHARLES SPENCER for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "This is a vanity production that does no favours to anyone involved; when the final curtain falls, it is like the blessed relief of the all-clear siren." BENEDICT NIGHTINGALE for THE TIMES says, "There isn't a sweeter, warmer, more likeable play in London..But taut, sharp drama? That's another matter."

It is directed by Trevor Nunn, designed by John Napier, lighting by David Hersey, costumes by Elise Napier, original music by Steven Edis, choreography by Henry Metcalfe and sound by Colin Pink. It is produced by Bill Kenwright and Thelma Holt.

The cast includes Juliet Stevenson (Hetty), Marcia Warren (Flora), Kate O'Mara (Helen), Patsy Palmer (Charlotte), Caroline Blakiston (Jocelyn), Paul Bentley (Reggie), Rosemary McHale (Gertrude), Adam Davy (Joseph), Cat Simmons (Ivy), Emma Darwall-Smith (Ros).

What did you do in the war mummy? Inspired by the true wartime history of the Osiris Players, Imogen Stubbs' new comedy tells the story of a small group of women who come together to form a 'girls only' theatre company to take the plays of Shakespeare around a culture starved country. While the men are fighting Hitler and the bombs are blitzing London, these hopelessly mismatched individuals from entirely different social backgrounds embark on a crazy adventure, crammed into their battered 1920's Rolls Royce. Together and separately they are forced to discover what life is like without men, and eventually, how they must survive when they have only each other.