Chris Eldon Lee reviews “Private Lives”, which is at The New Vic Theatre in Newcastle Under Lyme until Saturday 23rd May.
“No one is completely normal in their private lives”.
It’s just a throwaway line in the script but, 85 years ago, Noel Coward built an entire play around it. And even though his 1930s characters seem an age away in a far off, unfamiliar society…the fun still flows, and the blatant bickering dazzles. Being a bit of a cad for a moment, there were times when I felt the indulgent squabbling became just a touch tiresome. But the star-turns on stage easily won the audience over – just as Noel and Gertie, and Richard Burton and Liz Taylor did in their day.
The opening set consists of two stark white, hotel balconies separated by low black railings…like a marble tennis court with a wrought iron net. The set is a neat mirror image of itself. Two honeymoon couples appear, alternately, and their scenes mirror each other too. Five years after his tempestuous divorce, dapper Elyot has brought his young, blushing, but slightly frumpy bride to the French coast. Within 60 seconds he’s doing mother-in-law jokes and she’s interrogating him about his ex-wife, Amanda. “Don’t quibble, Sybil,” he assures her. “I don’t want to ever see her again”. 15 – love.
They exit one side of the stage, and in the first of a series of cleverly synchronised scenes, Victor enters on the other with his previously- divorced new wife who he calls – wait for it – Mandy. 15 – all.
Coward drops his penny early…and a lengthy rally must surely follow. The big question is; just how badly can Elyot and Amanda behave – and can they ever quell their childlike tempers to become a match made in heaven.
It’s a sparkling and sparky comedy and the cast of four lovers and a comic French maid absolutely make the most of it. Harry Long and Fiona Hampton go at each other like an nuclear fusion reaction. Niall Costigan and Jessica Baglow are as forlorn as strays at a rescue kennel. And Chiraz Aich’s does her taciturn daily help to a ‘T’.
Director Elizabeth Newman has done her damnedest to get to the heart of Coward’s comedy… but, actually, there isn’t one. It’s all “terribly, terribly” and “awfully, awfully” – and ultimately slight and shallow.
If it’s depth you’re after, then ‘King Lear’ is up next at the New Vic. Meanwhile, “Private Lives” is certainly a crowd pleaser. So just sit back and enjoy the jocularity and some cracking acting.
Visit www.newvictheatre.org.uk for bookings & more information about New Vic Theatre
Photo : Ian Tilton