Review: PRIVATE LIVES, Royal Exchange Theatre
Photo credit: Johan Persson
Private Lives is possibly one of Noel Coward’s most performed plays and despite being originally staged in 1930, it is still entertaining and funny. Divorced couple Amanda and Elyot both remarry only to find themselves honeymooning in neighbouring rooms in the hotel. When they reunite on their balconies, they decide to run away together and think that perhaps they should never have split up after all. It is a somewhat ludicrous story and the characters are all fairly over the top, but this all adds to the humour.
Blanche McIntyre directs this production at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre. Despite the story and the characters’ actions at times being a little far-fetched, McIntyre keeps the action grounded in a layer of reality. The morality of all of the characters’ is questioned as it should be. McIntyre’s production moves at an excellent speed and she ensures that every laugh lands. However, it doesn’t look as though McIntyre was particularly confident in staging a show in the round. Rather than directing the action to ensure the whole audience was involved, the stage constantly revolves which starts to make some of the audience feel a little motion sick. The revolving doesn’t particularly feel like it adds anything to the storytelling.
Dick Bird’s set and costume design captures the glamour of the 1920s era. The costumes are elegant and the set for the second half feels like a very believable living room. The set for the first act is slightly odd though – if we hadn’t seen a previous production, we’re not certain we’d have known we were looking at two neighbouring balconies in a hotel.
Headlining the production is Jill Halfpenny as Amanda. She gives a wonderful performance – perhaps the most likeable of our leading quartet by the time the play ends. She works very well with Steve John Shepherd as Elyot. They both excellently portray the couple who really do love each other deeply, whilst not quite being able to see when to stop. The sexual chemistry is certainly strong, bringing great contrast to their relationships with their new partners. Shazia Nicholls takes on the role of Sibyl and Daniel Millar plays Victor. Both start off as the traditional thinking lovers, contrasting Amanda and Elyot’s more progressive lifestyles. We like them both instantly, even if we don’t always agree with their views, making Amanda and Elyot’s behaviour all the more morally dubious. The chemistry between Shepherd and Nicholls, and Halfpenny and Millar is believable and warm, meaning it’s not a foregone conclusion that that Amanda and Elyot have to get back together again. All four cast members demonstrate impeccable comic timing and fully lean into Coward’s larger-than-life comedic style. Sara Lessore completes the cast as Louise. Despite incredibly minimal stage time, she has a great presence and strong comic timing. She makes the most of all of her moments, adding to the utterly bonkers nature of the final act.
Private Lives, despite being almost 100 years old, is still funny, fast-paced and incredibly entertaining. It’s farcical comedy done right whilst ensuring the immorality of the characters isn’t entirely swept under the rug.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Jacob Bush
Private Lives plays at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre until 2 May, with further info here.