Fallen Angels (w/ Eric Emch)

Fallen Angels (w/ Eric Emch) Fallen Angels is one of Noël Coward's sharpest early comedies, a 1925 comedy of manners that follows two married women whose lives spiral into chaos after learning that a former French lover they once shared is returning to London. Set among the British upper class between the wars, the play balances sparkling wit, physical comedy, and surprisingly modern observations about friendship, marriage, and female agency. Now revived on Broadway by Roundabout Theatre Company at the Todd Haimes Theatre, the production embraces both the elegance and absurdity of Coward's writing, transforming the century-old text into a fast-paced theatrical cocktail filled with champagne, chaos, and razor-sharp one-liners. Host Andrew Cole is joined by creative director Eric Emch to unpack the revival's standout performances, design work, and the emotional undercurrents beneath all the comedy. Directed by Scott Ellis, the production stars Kelli O'Hara and Rose Byrne as the gloriously unraveling Julia and Jane, alongside Tracy Chimo, Asif Mandvi, Christopher Fitzgerald, and Mark Consuelos. Together, Andrew and Eric discuss Coward's enduring fascination with glamorous, complicated women, why the production feels surprisingly modern despite being written 100 years ago, and if this revival succeeds via pure theatrical escapism. ***** CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro / Welcome Eric Emch 10:35 Setting the Stage 11:50 Hot Takes 28:31 Big Feels 37:34 Should You See It? 42:24 Outro ***** ABOUT THE SHOW See Fallen Angels on Broadway: https://www.roundabouttheatre.org/get-tickets/2025-2026-season/fallen-angels  Watch Kelli O'Hara's "My Life in the Theatre" Video: https://playbill.com/article/my-life-in-the-theatre-kelli-ohara  ***** GUEST HOST LOVE Learn More About Eric: https://ericemch.com/  ***** SUPPORT CRITICAL DARLING Spotify - Follow, Listen & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-spotify  YouTube - Subscribe & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-youtube  Apple Podcasts - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-apple  Instagram - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-instagram  Amazon Music - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-amazon  TikTok - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-tiktok