Private Lives

Synopsis

A divorced couple are reunited whilst honeymooning with their second spouses. Moonlight on the Mediterranean - a beautiful young woman drifts onto a hotel balcony. A young man joins her. They embrace, drink in the scene. This is a dream of a honey moon come true. They part. The young man is alone. A band plays. On the next balcony another young woman appears. She sings a song. The young man gives a horrified gasp and freezes. He knows that tune only too well. And he knows that voice. He used to be married to it.

Our Review:

12 July 2005

For the third year running, Peter Hall's Bath company have turned their attentions to a Noel Coward play, following last year's acclaimed production of Blithe Spirit, and the previous year's Design for Living, with Private Lives.

The play, directed by Thea Sharrock, is coupled with Much Ado About Nothing, and they both feature a battle between two star-crossed lovers.

I have to confess to being largely unmoved by Coward's 'talent to amuse’. Master craftsman though he was, his work seems as dead to me as the Elizabethan madrigal, to quote Philip Larkin, became to the British public.

The production though is crisp enough with a fine performance from Michael Siberry as Elyot and excellent support from Charles Edwards as Victor. Greta Scacchi, languorously plush as Amanda, lends glamour - if not quite enough bite.

Alan Rickman and Lindsay Duncan in a pr...

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