Stage Review - Fallen Angels (Jewel Box)
Stage Review - Fallen Angels
Presented By: Jewel Box - Poulsbo, WA
Show Run: September 11 - September 27, 2026
Date Reviewed: Sunday, September 20, 2026
Run Time: 2 Hours (including a 15-minute intermission)
Reviewed by: Breanne Jensen
There’s nothing better on a sunny summer afternoon than sitting down and watching a cheeky little British comedy. Written by Noel Coward, in 1925, this classic farce brings hysteria, chaos, slapstick comedy and belly laughs. Coward was an incredible playwright for his time, both in volume of successful works as well as maintaining that success during World War II. Now, over one-hundred years later, theatres from Broadway to community stages are still performing his work(s) today! This particular show follows two women, Julia and Jane, who are married and are romanticizing an old fling they had prior to their marriage vows. The two plan a lady’s night, while their husbands, Willy and Fred, are on a fella’s weekend playing golf. The two women conjure up a plan to reconnect with their forbidden French lover, Maurice for an evening of, being untrue. While the husbands are away, the angels will play. As the two ladies wait and wait for Maurice, they indulge their nerves with beverages and a slew of events unfold that don’t quite go as expected for the ladies. One thing that is expected? A smile on your face and nonstop laughter.
The sets (design by Gary Fetterplace and construction by Bill Klorig and David Dick) are quaint with mostly furniture and art, filling the small space effectively and accomplishing an environment that displays as elegant and ritzy. The scenic art (Kristi Ann Jacobson and Francis Martin) adds to the 1920’s setting and charm elevating the lavish lifestyle that these two couples live, including a maid named Saunders! The light design (by Dale Borer) illuminates and highlights each actor, mood and setting effectively and balances everything on stage nicely. Vocal coach, Abby Dickson, does a splendid job adding piano arrangements each female sings and/or plays. Both the singing and playing are lovely while also comedic and execute each style for the moment perfectly. The costumes (designed by Ashley Hooper) are simply stunning! Not only are the costumes era appropriate, each individual was dressed in a way that was flattering to them and enhanced their character and who they are. Every time another actor came on with a costume change, I was enthralled in the beauty! Stage Manager, Catherine Bennett, does a lovely job running a smooth show with many props including numerous food props that has to take quite the amount of preparation for every show as the characters eat and drink many different items throughout the run. I couldn’t quite tell what they had made the “steak” out of, but I heard a cast member mention it was made out of brownies, and while genius and delicious, I bet they are stuffed after each performance! Director, Kristi Ann Jacobson, hits it out of the park per usual in anything she directs. Jacobson’s visions are always executed clearly, strongly and with immense attention to detail which is what makes a great show stand apart from the others. Whether it is a cheeky comedy or a dramatic Shakespeare, Jacobson is easily one of the best directors in Kitsap County!
Just like Jewel Box Theatre’s quaint size, the cast of this show is made up of only six actors. Every actor in the show had their own individual character, stand out moment, “it” factor and talent that made the small cast feel mighty and unshakable. There was never a dropped line that could be caught or a stumble that would be noticeable to the audience. The cast has an amazing trust and chemistry in one another. Maurice, the French tempter, played by Dan Barnard, enters for one scene and the entire time I could not stop laughing! Barnard, perfectly embodies his character and really had the audience in stitches with his humor, over exaggerated French accent and mayhem. Willy Banbury, Husband to Jane, is played by Tyler Weaver who is no new comer to theatre or the stage, although this is his first time on the JBT mainstage. Weaver has great comedic timing and has a teddy bear like quality to him, especially in his argyle golf attire. Husband to Julia, Fred Sterroll, played by the always hilarious Gary Fetterplace is blissfully naïve and trusting. Fetterplace’s authentic accent always inspires his castmates to elevate theirs in such a way that the atmosphere becomes natural. Fetterplace has wonderful facial expressions and underestimated humor that is effortless. The maid, whose name is Jasmine, but her employers, the Sterrolls, insist on calling her Saunders, is played by actress Sasha Alamano. Alamano matches the energy, humor and physical comedy of her castmates whilst taking on the large task of bringing on every food, beverage and/or prop item, without ever missing a beat!
One of our two leading ladies, Jane Branbury, is played by Laurel Marlantes. Marlantes plays her role whimsically, overzealous and a encourages herself to be a dramatic damsel in distress who creates all of her own distress and is the poster child for incredible physical comedy. Our second fallen agnel, Julia Sterroll, is played by stage vet Kate Tanner. Tanner who is returning after a long hiatus on stage, is the more “grounded” of the two ladies and she does a joyful job playing opposite of her counterpart…until she doesn’t. Tanner starts as the more reserved one and after a few champagnes (girl after my own heart), she becomes wild, vivacious, silly and downright hilarious. Both Tanner and Marlantes have incredible platonic and stage chemistry that amplified this show’s humor and entertainment. They are quite the dynamic duo with the help of one another and their castmates, not to mention a strong back bone of support provided by the creative team.
If you are going to the theatre to ingest some deep, emotional, philosophical piece of art, “Fallen Angels” is definitely not what you should see. But, if you are wanting a fun escape from your daily serious life and all the problems we encounter, this show is exactly what you are looking for. If I’m being honest, you should give it a chance either way, because sometimes having a silly little afternoon of giggles, wine and great talent goes a long way for the soul. I went in to the show expecting something unserious and while it was, the professional passion that lies within the playwriting met with how the artistic team poured into this production, “Fallen Angels” at the Jewel Box Theatre is a smashing success! Catch them in their final weekend before they close this Sunday, September 27th, 2026.
Fallen Angels runs on stage at the Jewel Box Theatre in Poulsbo through September 27. For more information, including ticket availability and sales, visit https://www.jewelboxpoulsbo.org/.
Photo credit: Kathy Berg
