Mrs Warren's Profession - Felicity Kendal stars
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
FOLLOWING a regional tour, a new production of George Bernard Shaw’s Mrs Warren’s Profession with Felicity Kendal in the title role, will transfer to the Comedy Theatre for a limited run – from March 25 (previews from March 16) to June 19, 2010.
One of Shaw’s most provocative plays, Mrs Warren’s Profession was first published in 1894 but not performed until 1902.
Mrs Warren is a middle-aged woman whose Cambridge-educated daughter, Vivie, is horrified to discover that her mother’s fortune was made managing high-class brothels.
However, after learning it was her mother’s impoverished youth that led her to prostitution, Vivie forgives her – until she realizes that the highly profitable business is still in operation.
Kendal‘s numerous theatre credits include Tom Stoppard’s Jumpers, The Real Thing, Hapgood, Arcadia and Indian Ink; Amy’s View, Humble Boy, Hidden Laughter, Tartuffe, The Vortex and most recently, The Last Cigarette. On television, she has appeared in Solo, The Mistress, Edward VII, Rosemary and Thyme, The Good Life (as Barbara Good) and Doctor Who (opposite David Tennant and Catherine Tate).
In Mrs Warren’s Profession Kendal will be joined by Lucy Briggs-Owen as Vivie. Michael Rudman directs.
Mrs Warren’s Profession was last seen in the West End – at the Novello Theatre (then the Strand) – in 2002, when Sir Peter Hall directed Brenda Blethyn in the title role and his daughter Rebecca as Vivie.
The Misanthrope continues at the Comedy Theatre until March 13, 2010.
Read more