Private Lives

Chesil theatre is a small converted 12th century church based in Winchester Hampshire and will usually hold only seventy or so patrons. They are always guaranteed a terific performance, Noel Coward's Private Lives was no exception. Arriving through the main entrance we were warmly greeted by the front of house team and shown to our seats. The first thing that always strikes you is just how hard the stage designers work to produce a first class set in a very small performance area. Simple and yet very affective from Peter Liddiard and his crew. The design was of the outside balcony of two adjoining rooms booked for the week by the main protagonists. It turns out that two of the pair Elyiot and Amanda were once married in, what appears to be a tempestuous affair, and now he is with his new spouse Sybil in the next room, with her new spouse Victor. The story unfolds (or unravels...) Alec Walters as Elyiot, Helen Milton-Symes as Amanda, Hannah Ley as Sybil and Steve Clark as Victor were all very assured and confident in their respective roles.

The diction was clear and concise, delivered at a good pace allowing the story to be told and the audience in full understanding, able to follow it well. They made great use of the set and stage area, and this was complimented by good lighting and sound (Tony Lawther) and good stage management by Angie Barks.

We were also entertained during the interval by a two piece combo, B Natural, who delivered a lovely 1920s' soft jazz repertoire of three or four songs. Once again I found myself brilliantly entertained by this marvellous little theatre group that epitomises what local theatre should be. Bravo Chesil, Bravo!

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