Losing Louis a play by Simon Mendes da Costa, is a black comedy which first premiered at the Hampstead Theatre, London, on 24 January 2005. It was produced by Michael Codron and starred Alison Steadman and Lynda Bellingham and was directed by Robin Lefevre. Following Hampstead Theatre it transferred immediately to the West End before embarking on a No 1. Southern tour the following year. It also opened on Broadway at the Biltmore Theatre on 12 October 2006, in a different production called Losing Louie, directed by Jerry Zaks.
Secrets that refuse to remain buried erupt as family members are brought together, after years of segregation to face it all out in the bedroom - the place where all the confusion began. (Taken from the original promotion leaflet)
Characters
The 1950s
- Louis Judah Ellis, A married man,
- Bobbie Ellis, His wife,
- Bella Holland, his mistress.
Present Day
- Tony Ellis, Louis's eldest son,
- Reggie Ellis, Louis's youngest son,
- Shelia Ellis, Tony's wife,
- Elizabeth Ellis, Reggie's wife.
Notable productions
| Role | The Original Cast, Hampstead Theatre and Trafalgar Studios (January - June, 2005) | The UK Tour, March 2006 | The Australian Premiere - Ensemble Theatre, June 2006. | Broadway premiere - Biltmore Theatre - October - November 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelia | Alison Steadman | Alison Steadman | Amanda Muggleton | Michele Pawk |
| Elizabeth | Lynda Bellingham | Rula Lenska | Linden Wilkinson | Patricia Kalember |
| Tony | David Horovich | David Horovich | George Spartels | Mark Linn-Baker |
| Reggie | Brian Protheroe | David Cardy | Andrew McFarlane | Matthew Arkin |
| Louis | Jason Durr | Ben Porter | Christopher Tomkinson | Scott Cohen |
| Bobbie | Emma Cunniffe | Sue Appleby | Amanda Bishop | Rebecca Creskoff |
| Bella | Anita Briem | Hannah Watkins | Octavia Barron-Martin | Jama Williamson |
| Director | Robin Lefevre | Robin Lefevre | Andrew Doyle | Jerry Zaks |
References
- Published by Methuen ISBN 978-0-413-77512-2
- The Guardian, Michael Billington
- Daily Telegraph, Charles Spencer
- Financial Times, Alistair Macaulay
- The Times, Benedict Nightingale
- IBDB New York production information of Losing Louie