Written and directed by Maureen Sherlock, performances will continue through June 3. Amanda Muggleton stars in the solo show.
Browne is best known today for playing Vera Charles in the film Auntie Mame, opposite Rosalind Russell.
Playwright-director Sherlock said in a statement, “I was intrigued by Coral Browne after reading so many biographies of celebrities, like Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, who mentioned her as an influence and mentor or related bawdy anecdotes involving her. She was Australian, but I’d never heard of her. Fortunately, all her papers and memorabilia were donated to the Performing Arts Collection in Melbourne by her second husband Vincent Price. And what a treasure trove they turned out to be! Letters from a who’s who of theatre luminaries, her lovers, her mother, Vincent Price, photographs, videos. Here was a woman whose determination, talent and lust for life had seen her climb out of working class Footscray in Melbourne and up to the West End stage and Hollywood. The more I researched, the more I loved this outrageous, funny, liberated woman who was way ahead of her time. And now it’s such a thrill to bring Coral Browne back to London where it all began for this wild Colonial girl!”
Sherlock’s previous theatre credits include Alzheimer’s the Musical: A night to remember! (Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh Fringe) and Ada & Elsie: Wacko-the-Diddle-oh! (Australian tour). Her credits as a co-writer include Lovers & Haters: The Turbulent Times of Don Dunstan (Adelaide Festival of Arts).
Muggleton’s previous theatre credits include Hairspray – The Arena Spectacular (Brisbane Entertainment Centre/ Newcastle Entertainment Centre), Annie (Lyric Theatre), Blood Brothers (Metcalfe Playhouse), The Threepenny Opera (Sydney Theatre Company), Hello, Dolly! (State Theatre, Melbourne), and more.
