Design for Living

Synopsis

Design for Living follows the fortunes of Gilda, Otto and Leo, a trio of decadent 30-something artists who travel from Paris to London to New York as their fame increases. The complex and revolving relationships between the three conclude themselves in a highly provocative manner, flying in the face of convention and their public profile. The notion of a ménage a trois, shocking in 1932 when the play was written is still provocative today and Coward's play has much to tell us about celebrity status, sexual mores and the nature of fidelity.

Our Review:

3 July 2002

Updating a classic to a contemporary setting is always a challenge. Noel Coward's tale of a bisexual ménage à trois, replete with the bite of his trademark cock a snook at social mores, shocked audiences in the 1930s. But as it unfolds in 21st-century fashion in this new Royal Exchange production (the last in the theatre's 25th anniversary season), it becomes clear that simply adding modern references and nudity in place of the original ingredients is not wholly successful.

Marianne Elliot's version follows three central characters - artist Otto (Oilver Milburn), successful playwright Leo (Clarence Smith) and society decorator Gilda (Victoria Scarborough) - who simply cannot live a day without each other. When Gilda and Leo first form an attachment as a couple, Otto is left full of anguish. But his return to both of their lives is inevitable, as is the unconventional - and increasingly entangled - relationship that develops from there.

What makes Design for Liv...

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Latest User Review

USER: Whatsonstage.com - 15 July 2002:

The modern setting clashed horribly with the dialogue and the acting was way over the top. The comedy cleaner was simply offensive. There was nothing of interest in this production....

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