Trevor Nunn’s acclaimed production of Relative Values starring Patricia Hodge, Caroline Quentin and Rory Bremner will transfer to the West End next month following a sold-out run at the Theatre Royal Bath last summer.
Noël Coward’s comedy about the uproarious culture clash between the glittering world of Hollywood and the stiff upper lip of the English aristocracy will play at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 19 March (press night 14 April) to 21 June.
Set in 1950s Kent, Relative Values tells the story of a young earl who intends to marry a Hollywood actress. But when it comes to light that the starlet’s sister is none other than Moxie, the earl’s mother’s maid, the family is well and truly flummoxed and attempts to pass Moxie off as one of their own.
Olivier Award winner Hodge returns to the London stage following appearances in productions including His Dark Materials, Noises Off, Money and A Little Night Music at the National Theatre. The actress has also appeared extensively on screen, with credits including Rumpole Of The Bailey, The Life And Loves Of A She-Devil and Hotel Du Lac. Most recently she has become well-known as Miranda Hart’s despairing on screen mother in hit BBC series Miranda.
She is joined by Quentin as Moxie. Currently starring in Oh What A Lovely War at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, the actress is best known for her television roles in Blue Murder, Jonathan Creek, Men Behaving Badly and Life Begins.
Scottish comedian and impressionist Bremner will make his West End debut in the production, reprising his role as Cresswell, the butler. He is best known for comedy series Rory Bremner… Who Else? and Bremner, Bird and Fortune, as well as appearances on panel shows including Mock The Week and Whose Line Is It Anyway?.
The cast will also include Primeval’s Ben Manfield, whose theatre credits include the West End production of One Man, Two Guvnors. Full casting, including who will take on the role of the Hollywood starlet, is still to be announced.
Fans of Coward are in for a double dose of the English playwright in the coming months, with Blithe Spirit also playing at the Gielgud Theatre from 1 March to 7 June.