[NEohioPAL] Preview of "Private Lives" at Lakeland Theatre/LCC

[Bob Abelman]

Lakeland invites you to explore Noel Coward's Private Lives

 

Bob Abelman

News-Herald, Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times Courier

Member, International Association of Theatre Critics 

 

This preview appeared in the News-Herald 9/25/09

 

Lakeland Community College kicks off the Fall theatre season with the Tony Award- winning play Private Lives. 


 Private Lives is a sophisticated comedy written in the 1930s by British playwright Noel Coward, renown for exposing low tide in high society.

 

Here, two fabulously wealthy couples honeymooning in an elegant hotel on the French Riviera come to realize that an ex-spouse of each of the couples is in a neighboring room. Elyot's ex-wife Amanda is on her honeymoon with Victor; Elyot is on his honeymoon with Sibyl.

 

Once they've rediscovered each other on adjacent patios, the stylish and admittedly shallow Elyot and Amanda realize that they still love each other.

 

"Let's be superficial and pity the poor philosophers," coos Elyot.  "Let's blow trumpets and squeakers and enjoy the party as much as we can, like very small, quite idiotic school children." 

 

"Noel Coward's plays are anything but superficial," notes Lakeland Theatre director Martin Friedman before an evening's rehearsal.  "The process of discovering the complexities of this play has been terrific.  This is a very witty comedy about the civility of marriage, but as you delve into it, you find that things are not always as they appear.  You find that marriage can be quite uncivil, even among the urbane."  

 

Upon their reconciliation, tender moments between Elyot and Amanda give way to caustic barbs thrown at the other's expense.  As the two stand on their respective balconies looking out at the sea and the Duke of Westminster's yacht, for example, Amanda says "I wish I were on it." To which Elyot casually replies, "I wish you were too."  It is not long before caustic barbs give way to an all-out brawl.

 

"Everyone has private lives," notes Friedman, adding that "these lives, while personal and taken quite seriously by those who live them, are very funny to observe for the rest of us.  This is precisely Coward's point." 

 

Playing the roles of Elyot and Amanda are the featured players in last season's Beck Center production of "The Farnsworth Invention," Sebastion Orr and Emily Pucell.  Their unsuspecting mates are played by Josh Brown and Allison Bencar.

 

It has been written that Noel Coward was perturbed as to why he was always expected to wear a dressing-gown, smoke cigarettes in a long holder and say "Darling, how wonderful."  Seeing Private Lives provides sufficient explanation.  

 

Details

 

What:      Private Lives

When:    Today through October 11 (Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., Sunday

    Matinees, 2 p.m.).

Where:   Lakeland Theatre, 7700 Clocktower Drive, Kirtland. 

Tickets:  $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $5 for students

Info:        (440) 525-7526 or martinfriedman98 at yahoo.com
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