Amanda and Elyot have been divorced for five years. Now recently remarried… to other people… the play opens on the first night of their honeymoons as they discover that they have by chance booked adjacent rooms at the same hotel in the north of France.
What follows is an excellent study into human nature, love and relationships, with a healthy dose of gender politics that still resonates now, despite having been written in 1930. It is very funny, which you would expect from writer Noel Coward. However, director David Burns has also managed to tease out moments of introspection, and almost vulnerability, which gave the exuberant characters a much greater depth of personality than I expected.
The action was beautifully framed by the simple but elegant set, also designed by Burns, which cleverly transformed from hotel balcony to Parisian apartment during the interval. Little touches were made to look effortless, such as the use of a vinyl record player, the curtain projections during scene changes and some clever lighting cues, but they really added to the overall sleek production. I was also impressed by the effort to reproduce period elements, including in the wardrobe and even in the characters’ movement. A particular mention must go to whoever directed the fight scene in Act II, not credited in the programme; managing such a complex sequence of movement and making it look realistic but keeping everyone safe is no mean feat.
The leading quartet of players: Rhiannon Pothecary, Dan Pothecary, Chris Billington and Amy Butler worked very well together. The level of chemistry between the different members of the cast varied, and I was initially a little sceptical about the playing ages of some of the actors (a perennial problem in community theatre). However, in the end, the performances were universally believable and engaging. The timing of comedic and emotional lines was spot on throughout.
The production was particularly well directed; Burns had a clear idea of how each relationship would play out and made excellent use of the strengths of each actor as well as the space. I was particularly impressed by the final scene, which called for a fine balance of energy and subtlety that really worked well.
So, if you want to know what happens to Amanda and Elyot after their fateful re-encounter, come and see the show and explore their private lives in glorious detail!
Private Lives continues at the Players Theatre, Cheadle Hulme, until Saturday 27th May 2023. More information about the production can be found here: https://www.playersdramatic.co.uk/ Ticket links can be found here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/playersdramaticsociety. The 2023-24 season has just been announced, and more information on that can also be found on the website.
Reviewer: Jo Tillotson
Reviewed: 23rd May 2023
North West End UK Rating: