Dames Maggie Smith and Judi Dench proved themselves at the top of their form at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket last night (15th Ocrober) when they opened in David Hares' new play - directed by Howard Davies - The Breath of Life.
The press have showered praise on them, with the Times and Telegraph being particularly keen, and all the papers share a pleasure in seeing both stars on such good form delivering acting of a quality rarely seen.
Neither actress is a stranger to the Haymarket - Maggie Smith appeared in a revival of Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance there a couple of years ago, while Judi Dench was there recently in a revival of Theatre Royal (originally called The Royal Family), a 1920s comedy about an American acting dynasty, modelled on the Barrymores.
Both actresses are as popular in the States as in England and continue to have film as well as stage careers, but they belong, ultimately, in the West End, and to have them together on stage in a play by one of the country's leading playwrights is a theatre buff's idea of Heaven.
This article appeared on the Theatrenow website on October 16, 2002.