Details

A trip out to the country takes old roué Sir Harcourt Courtly, his young son and his friend Dazzle on a wild journey into a world full of madcap characters - the amazonian Lady Gay Spanker, suave Mr Cool, the scandal-pursuing lawyer Meddle and countless others. Most striking of all is the beautiful young Miss Grace Harkaway who becomes the object of affection of both father and son. All exhibit the quality of London Assurance, the arrogance, cheek swagger and sheer joie de vivre of people taking life by storm. Liar, bigamist, suspected murderer, confidence trickster and undisputed giant of British drama, Dion Boucicault was one of the most colourful personalities the theatre has produced. London Assurance is a celebration and parody of classical English comedy and inspiration to later playwrights such as Wilde, Synge, O'Casey and Pinero. It is a wonderful, youthful cry-of-joy of a play.
Performers Ken Bradshaw (Dazzle), Mike Burnside (Max), Robert Calvert (Martin/James Solomon), Clare Corbett (Grace), Nigel Hastings (Meddle), Alan McMahon (Cool), Laurence Mitchell (Charles Courtly), Gerard Murphy (Sir Harcourt Courtly), Geraldine McNulty (Lady Gay Spanker), Vivien Reid (Pert), Christopher Ryan (Adolphus Spanker).
Author Dion Boucicault. Producer Watermill. Director Nikolai Foster. Design Philip Whitcomb. Musical Director Grant Olding. Lighting Guy Hoare. Music Grant Olding. Design Philip Whitcomb.