Private Lives

This has to be one of my favorite Noel Coward plays.  First shown in 1930  It is the story of Elyot Chase and Amanda Prynne, a once married couple who meet, awkwardly, on adjoining balconies whilst on their  honeymoon with their new partners.Chaos ensues! 

Elyot is with his new spouse Cyril and Amanda with her husband Victor 

In Scene 1 the balcony set transported one immediately to warmer climes, the cocktails looked most tempting.  

The cast managed to portray the mood and the elegance of the 1930s admirably – much drinking of cocktails, much smoking of elegant cigarettes and a pipe. Noel Coward, master of witticisms and brilliant put downs, demands excellent timing from his actors, and the cast in this production rose to the challenge. 

It was immediately clear that the mutual fascination of Elyot (Dan Thomas-Williamson) and Amanda (Rachel Banfield) would cause their new spouses to become an irrelevance and an irritation as their attraction was reignited  

Victor (Joseph Harris) played his part as the somewhat calm and insipid second husband to perfection. Ryan Gluyas as Cyril Chase made a superb, if slightly different, spouse to Elyot, verging on hysteria at times which really suited his character. 

The Scene 2 and 3 Paris flat was delightfully Art Deco.  All the ensuing fights and squabbles were well choreographed and very funny. 

Donna Richardson, as the maid Louise, although a small part , suited the role perfectly and completed the cast. 

The afternoon was enhanced by the Afternoon Tea Cakes and added to the ambience of the play. 

All the cast are to be congratulated their portrayals of these complex characters. 

This Society always produces something different, and we are never disappointed. 

I’m sure Noel would have approved of this production. 

This review is the sole view of the author

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