Noël Coward's WAITING IN THE WINGS is Coming to Theatricum Botanicum

Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum will present Waiting in the Wings, a vibrant, funny, humane comedy by Noël Coward that reminds us that a life well-lived is measured not by applause, but by connection. Performances join Theatricum’s repertory season beginning July 11, with associate artistic director Willow Geer at the helm.

Set in “The Wings,” a charity home for retired actresses, Coward’s 50th play is a witty and poignant portrait of nine opinionated, funny, difficult and full of life women, each of whom once basked in public admiration — but who must now learn to face old age together, long after the curtain has fallen. A tribute to the theater that evokes the lives of aging stars, their lingering jealousies and the enduring power of friendship, Waiting in the Wings is a meditation on community and forgiveness. Old grievances linger here like half-remembered roles, but Coward suggests that bitterness is heavy to carry, and that reconciliation, no matter when, can be liberating.

Residents at The Wings include May Davenport (Jan Wikstrom), a bona-fide star in her day who specialized in Shakespeare and restoration comedies, and Lotta Bainbridge (Susan Angelo), a distinguished, lifelong actress who was May’s rival in love. Bonita Belgrave (Katherine Griffin) was popular in supporting parts, entertaining the troops during World War I, while vivacious Maudie Melrose (Jane Macfie) excelled as a soubrette in musical comedies. True stardom may have eluded them, but Estelle Craven (Michele Schultz) spent her entire life on the stage, as did Almina Clare (Gini Autumn Benson). Cora Clarke (Cynthia Kania) and Deirdre O’Malley (Earnestine Phillips) are accomplished stage veterans, while Sarita Myrtle (Ellen Geer) may be losing her grip on reality as she continues to re-live past roles. Staffing The Wings are the outwardly gruff but kind-hearted resident superintendant, Miss Archie (Miranda Heath); likeable employee Perry Lascoe (Will Collyer), and the put-upon maid, Doreen (Natalia Jofre). Visitors include Lotta’s former but still faithful dresser Dora (Offir Mashiah); an elderly gentleman caller named Osgood Meeker (Tim Sabourin); the good Dr. Jevons, who must make frequent house calls (Asa Fris); and Zelda Fenwick (Isabel Stallings), a journalist who may have ulterior motives.

Waiting in the Wings premiered in Dublin in August ,1960 and in London’s West End the following month. Four decades later, in 1999, the play opened on Broadway, running for 186 performances and 16 previews.

The creative team at Theatricum includes Costume Designer Vicki Conrad, lighting designer Hayden Kirschbaum and sound designer Marc Antonio Pritchett. Darby Huffaker is the prop master and Beth Eslick is the wardrobe supervisor. Aubrey Saverino assistant directs and the production stage manager is Karen Osborne, assisted by Sky Wahl.

Waiting in the Wings will run in rotation every weekend with Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Treasure Island, each of which open earlier in the season. The People of Pompei, the newest work from Topanga-based playwright Bernardo Cubría, will join the repertory season on August 1. Unlike most companies in L.A. that stage continuous runs of a single play, Theatricum operates in true repertory. Each of the five mainstage productions opens in rapid succession and is added to the rotation. By August, all five plays are in performance, making it possible to see the entire season over the course of a single week.

Waiting in the Wings opens on Saturday, July 11 at 7:30 p.m. and continues to run in repertory through October 3. For a complete schedule of performances, scroll all the way down or visit the website.

Tickets to performances range from $15 to $63. The performance on Monday, Aug. 17 is Pay-What-You-Will (available online the week of the performance or pay cash at the door) and features a 30-minute pre-show discussion, beginning one hour before curtain, at 6:30 p.m. The performance on Sunday, Aug. 23 will feature an ASL interpreter.