Jack Absolute Flies Again

Jack Absolute Flies Again is a play by Richard Bean and Oliver Chris, based on Richard Brinsley Sheridan's 1775 play The Rivals, a comedy of manners.

Jack Absolute Flies Again
Written by	Richard Bean Oliver Chris
Based on	The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Place premiered	Olivier Theatre, National Theatre, London
Genre	Comedy
Setting	July 1940

Production history

The play was scheduled to make its world premiere in the Olivier Theatre at the National Theatre in London from April to July 2020.^[1][2] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all scheduled performances were cancelled and the production postponed, not joining the repertoire in either 2020 or 2021.

The play finally premiered on 9 August 2022, running until 9 September, directed by Emily Burns (replacing Thea Sharrock who was originally due to direct), with set and costumes by Mark Thompson, lighting designed by Tim Lutkin (replacing Bruno Poet), music composed by Paul Englishby (replacing Adrian Johnston) with a cast including Caroline Quentin as Mrs Malaprop, Peter Forbes as Sir Anthony Absolute (replacing James Fleet) and Kelvin Fletcher as Dudley Scunthorpe (replacing Richard Fleeshman).

Awards and nominations

In 2023, Quentin received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.