Noël Coward’s funny, humane ‘Waiting in the Wings’
gets delightful revival at Theatricum Botanicum
TOPANGA, Calif. (June 2, 2026) –– As Bette Davis famously noted, “Growing old ain’t for sissies.” Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum presents Waiting in the Wings, a vibrant, funny, deeply humane comedy by Noël Coward that reminds us that a life well-lived is measured not by applause, but by connection. Performances join Theatricum’s repertory season beginning July 11, with co-producing artistic director Willow Geer at the helm.
Set in “The Wings,” a charity home for retired actresses, Coward’s 50th play is a witty and poignant portrait of nine opinionated, funny, difficult and full of life women, each of whom once basked in public admiration — but who must now learn to face old age together, long after the curtain has fallen. A tribute to the theater that evokes the lives of aging stars, their lingering jealousies and the enduring power of friendship, Waiting in the Wings is a meditation on community and forgiveness. Old grievances linger here like half-remembered roles, but Coward suggests that bitterness is heavy to carry, and that reconciliation, no matter when, can be liberating.
“I wrote Waiting in the Wings with loving care and absolute belief in its characters,” Coward once explained. “The play contains, beneath the froth of some of its lighter moments, the basic truth that old age needn’t be nearly so dreary and sad as it is supposed to be, provided you greet it with humor and live it with courage.”
“Coward shines a light on a portion of society that our culture too often forgets and stops listening to, and he does so with tenderness, humor and profound respect,” says Geer. “These are voices shaped by experience, artistry and survival, and the play invites us to listen to them.”
Residents at The Wings include May Davenport (Jan Wikstrom), a bona-fide star in her day who specialized in Shakespeare and restoration comedies, and Lotta Bainbridge (Susan Angelo), a distinguished, lifelong actress who was May’s rival in love. Bonita Belgrave (Katherine Griffin) was popular in supporting parts, entertaining the troops during World War I, while vivacious Maudie Melrose (Jane Macfie) excelled as a soubrette in musical comedies. True stardom may have eluded them, but Estelle Craven (Michele Schultz) spent her entire life on the stage, as did Almina Clare (Gini Autumn Benson). Cora Clarke (Cynthia Kania) and Deirdre O’Malley (Earnestine Phillips) are accomplished stage veterans, while Sarita Myrtle (Ellen Geer) may be losing her grip on reality as she continues to re-live past roles. Staffing The Wings are the outwardly gruff but kind-hearted resident superintendant, Miss Archie (Miranda Heath); likeable employee Perry Lascoe (Will Collyer), and the put-upon maid, Doreen (Natalia Jofre). Visitors include Lotta’s former but still faithful dresser Dora (Offir Mashiah); an elderly gentleman caller named Osgood Meeker (Tim Sabourin); the good Dr. Jevons, who must make frequent house calls (Asa Fris); and Zelda Fenwick (Isabel Stallings), a journalist who may have ulterior motives.
Waiting in the Wings premiered in Dublin in August ,1960 and in London’s West End the following month. Four decades later, in 1999, the play opened on Broadway, running for 186 performances and 16 previews.
The creative team at Theatricum includes costume designer Vicki Conrad, lighting designer Hayden Kirschbaum and sound designer Marc Antonio Pritchett. Darby Huffaker is the prop master and Beth Eslick is the wardrobe supervisor. Aubrey Saverino assistant directs and the production stage manager is Karen Osborne, assisted by Sky Wahl.
Waiting in the Wings will run in rotation every weekend with Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Treasure Island, each of which open earlier in the season. The People of Pompei, the newest work from Topanga-based playwright Bernardo Cubría, will join the repertory season on August 1. Unlike most companies in L.A. that stage continuous runs of a single play, Theatricum operates in true repertory. Each of the five mainstage productions opens in rapid succession and is added to the rotation. By August, all five plays are in performance, making it possible to see the entire season over the course of a single week.
Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum has a rich history dating back to the early 1950s when Will Geer, a victim of the McCarthy-era blacklist, opened a theater for blacklisted actors and folk singers on his Topanga property. Friends like Ford Rainey, Della Reese, Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie performed on the dirt stage, igniting both artistic expression and grassroots activism. Today, two outdoor amphitheaters sit within the natural canyon, offering audiences the chance to relax and enjoy nature during a performance. From May through October, Theatricum continues to be a haven for compassion, community and the wonders of nature. The theater is a beloved historical landmark and multiple award-winner, including the prestigious Margaret Harford Award for “sustained excellence” from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle.
Waiting in the Wings opens on Saturday, July 11 at 7:30 p.m. and continues to run in repertory through October 3. For a complete schedule of performances, scroll all the way down or visit the website.
Tickets to performances range from $15 to $63. The performance on Monday, Aug. 17 is Pay-What-You-Will (available online the week of the performance or pay cash at the door) and features a 30-minute pre-show discussion, beginning one hour before curtain, at 6:30 p.m. The performance on Sunday, Aug. 23 will feature an ASL interpreter.
The amphitheater is terraced into the hillside, so audience members are advised to dress casually (warmly for evenings) and bring cushions for bench seating. Patrons are welcome to arrive early to picnic in the gardens before a performance.
Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum is located at 1419 North Topanga Canyon Blvd. in Topanga, midway between Malibu and the San Fernando Valley. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (310) 455-3723 or visit theatricum.com
Details for Calendar Listings
‘Waiting in the Wings’
WHAT:
As Bette Davis famously noted, “Growing old ain’t for sissies.” Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum presents Waiting in the Wings, a vibrant, funny, deeply humane comedy by Noël Coward that reminds us that a life well-lived is measured not by applause, but by connection. Set in “The Wings,” a charity home for retired actresses, Coward’s 50th play is a witty and poignant portrait of nine opinionated, funny, difficult and full of life women, each of whom once basked in public admiration — but who must now learn to face old age together, long after the curtain has fallen.
WHO:
• Written by Noël Coward
• Directed by Willow Geer
• Starring Susan Angelo, Gini Autumn Benson, Will Collyer, Asa Fris, Ellen Geer, Katherine Griffin, Miranda Heath, Natalia Jofre, Cynthia Kania, Jane Macfie, Offir Mashiah, Earnestine Phillips, Tim Sabourin, Michele Schultz, Isabel Stallings, Billy Walker, Jan Wikstrom
• Presented by Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum
WHEN:
Performances: July 11 – Oct. 3
• Saturday, July 11 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, July 26 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 2 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, Aug. 14 at 7:30 p.m.
• Monday, Aug. 17 at 7:30 p.m.*
• Sunday, Aug. 23 at 7:30 p.m.**
• Sunday, Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 13 at 3:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 20 at 3:30 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
*The performance on Monday, Aug. 17 is Pay-What-You-Will; a 30-minute pre-show discussion with the cast will begin one hour before curtain, at 6:30 p.m..
**The performance on Sunday, Aug. 23 will feature an ASL interpreter.
WHERE:
Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum
1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Topanga CA 90290
(midway between Pacific Coast Highway* and the Ventura freeway)
TICKET PRICES:
$15-$63
• Children 4 and under: free
• Pay-What-You-Will at the performance on Monday, Aug. 17 (available online the week of the
OTHER:
• The outdoor amphitheater at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum is terraced into the hillside of the rustic canyon. Audience members are advised to dress casually (warmly for evenings) and bring cushions for bench seating.
• Patrons are welcome to arrive early to picnic in the gardens before performances.
HOW:
theatricum.com
(310) 455-3723
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