Don't Dress for Dinner

Don't Dress for Dinner is an adaptation of a two-act play titled Pyjama Pour Six by French playwright Marc Camoletti, who wrote Boeing-Boeing.

The English version opened in the West End at the Apollo Theatre in March 1991, directed by Peter Farago and starring Simon Cadell as Robert, Su Pollard as Suzette, Jane How as Jaqueline, and John Quayle as Bernard.

The reviewer for The Guardian wrote: "Hurtling along at the speed of light, Marc Camoletti's breathtaking farce is a near faultless piece of theatrical invention.

[3] The play was famously featured as the basis for a hidden camera prank on Lionel Blair on the television series Noel's House Party.

The reviewer for The New York Times wrote: " 'Don't Dress for Dinner' does not mirror human folly in the manner of true farce, but, rather, extols pretense and infidelity, validates multiple duplicity and provides a very wearying evening in the theater.

"[4] Don't Dress for Dinner was produced at the Royal George Theatre, Chicago, Illinois in November 2008 to January 2009, with direction by John Tillinger and featuring Patricia Kalember and Spencer Kayden.

"[5] The play opened on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre in a limited run, with previews starting on March 30, 2012, and officially on April 26, 2012, and scheduled to close on June 17, 2012.

This production of the Roundabout Theatre is directed by John Tillinger, and features Ben Daniels, Patricia Kalember, Adam James, Jennifer Tilly, David Aron Damane, and Spencer Kayden.

[6] The New York Times reviewer wrote: " 'Don’t Dress for Dinner' is arguably a better-constructed farce than 'Boeing-Boeing,' but this show, directed by John Tillinger, lacks crucial elements that made the earlier revival, directed by Matthew Warchus, so popular: the particular genius of Mr. [Mark] Rylance, whose clowning was gently infused with real pathos, as well as stylish designs and the 'Mad Men'-era kitsch factor provided by the presence of sex-kitten stewardesses... Subtlety is not a requirement — or even an asset — when playing farce, and the cast of 'Don’t Dress for Dinner' certainly makes no attempt to underplay...

After Bernard and Jacqueline go to bed, Suzanne visits Robert's bedroom, claims they should share it and that he deserves a reward for buying her a new Chanel coat (because Suzette took the old one).