STAGE

“Shirley Valentine,” a one-woman Broadway-bound comedy about an emotionally unfulfilled Liverpool housewife, and Leonard Bernstein’s classic 1956 Broadway musical “Candide” took honors Sunday in London’s prestigious Laurence Olivier theater awards. “Shirley Valentine” was named comedy of the year and its sole performer, Pauline Collins, was chosen actress of the year in a new play or comedy. “Hang in there, girls; it may yet happen,” said Collins, who’s perhaps best-known for playing the maid Sarah on “Upstairs, Downstairs.” In a noticeably weak year for London musicals, a limited-run revival of “Candide” won for musical of the year and also for actress of the year in a musical, Patricia Routledge. Sir Alec Guinness, who is playing a Soviet diplomat in the American play “A Walk in the Woods,” received a lifetime achievement award.