Lady Windermere's Fan

Produced as part of the Vaudeville Theater’s Oscar Wilde season in 2018 this production was part of theater director, Dominic Dromgoole’s plan to stage all of Wilde’s plays in London. First performed in 1892, “Lady Windermere’s Fan” was the playwright's first big hit.

A comedy of manners exploring the social mores of Victorian high society, the story focuses on young Lady Windermere who suspects her husband of having an affair. Enter Mrs Erlynne, a woman with a past who the chattering classes suspect of being a scarlet woman. Chaos and confusion follow as everyone tries to understand what is going on. Set against the backdrop of Lady Windermere’s lavish birthday party the action subtly moves between comedy and melodrama.

Directed by actress, Kathy Burke (Kevin and Perry Go Large, Nil By Mouth, Flushed Away) the production bears all the hallmarks of Oscar Wilde’s signature wit and aphorisms including the famous line, “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

Comedian and actress, Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous, Spice World, Death on The Nile) returns to the West End stage after more than twenty years to give a high-octane performance as the Duchess of Berwick. Described by critics as a “scene-stealing performance” and “entirely convincing,” Saunders owns the stage here. Other characters of note include Grace Molony as Lady Windermere making her West End debut and Samantha Spiro as Mrs Erlynne; the enigmatic lady with many past lives.

Set in nineteenth-century England, it benefits from being staged in its original setting providing us with comic insight into the machinations of Victorian high society.