Private Lives at Reading Rep Theatre Review
Photo: Pamela Raith
Written by Eleanor B for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review. All views are our own
Private Lives, the 1931 play written by and originally starring Noel Coward, is a feisty rom-com centred on love and marriage. I’ll admit that I am not the most familiar with Noel Coward’s work, but I was very intrigued by this show’s premise and how it would be adapted at this fantastic regional theatre.
This energetic production is brilliantly entertaining whilst conveying the suave charm of the 1930s. The comic timing of the actors is well placed and the audience just loved it.
As the play begins, we are introduced to newly married couple Elyot (Christopher Bonwell) and Sybil (Orla O’Sullivan) as they honeymoon together in France. While Elyot appears nonchalant, Sybil is concerned about his feelings towards his previous wife Amanda. So, who should be staying in the adjoining hotel room but the aforementioned Amanda herself (Amy Di Bartolomeo) and her new husband Victor (Emile John). This coincidence leads to confusion and comedy, where all parties ultimately must focus on what they want from love and relationships.
One of the strengths of this adaptation of Private Lives is Jill Green’s casting. The way each couple complement and contrast each other is brilliantly balanced, as is the comic style of each actor. Christopher Bonwell as Elyot is sinical, calm and exasperated, while Orla O’Sullivan as Sybil is brazen, passionate and excitable. Bonwell delivered a dapper, charming portrayal, using strong physical comedy that made his scenes consistently engaging. O’Sullivan’s slightly exaggerated performance worked well, particularly in the way her emotions would switch in an instant. Alongside them is Amy Di Bartolomeo as Amanda and Emile John as Victor.Although I warmed to their characters slightly less, Di Bartolomeo was wonderfully dramatic and used mimicry and sharp comic timing to great effect; the way she would break a silence with a perfectly timed line really stood out. Even though John’s version of Victor was not what I expected I warmed to his performance, particularly in the second half.
As a classic romantic comedy, Private Lives had the audience either tittering or laughing from start to finish. I loved the moments where Amada and Elyot meet each other on their balconies or when their fights are disrupted with the phrase ‘Solomon Isaacs!’ I also loved the way each character would mock another and would play on one another’s pride and arrogance. With a script that is already inherently funny, I sometimes wondered whether even more comedy could have been drawn from it if the performances had been slightly more subtle at times. This would have allowed the more exaggerated moments to stand out further and created a stronger sense of progression throughout the play. Similarly, many of the biggest laughs come from the loud, chaotic arguments between the characters, but these occasionally felt as though they had nowhere to build to at their climax because they began at such a heightened level. But you could tell that many within the audience loved the intensity of this show and it is impressive how the actors were able to maintain it.
As the play concluded, I found myself slightly disconnected from the plot. While there were many funny and farcical moments, I did struggle to want Amanda and Elyot to succeed in their endeavour. This made it difficult to fully root for them or become completely invested in their story, even though it was fun to watch it play out. Perhaps because of this, some scenes in the second half felt a little lengthy and, in my opinion, did little to deepen our understanding of the characters or build tension.
Overall, this production of Private Lives is an entertaining staging of a classic play which delighted much of the audience on the night I attended. While I personally struggled to fully connect with story in places, the strong performances and sharp comedy meant there was still plenty to enjoy.
Private Lives will be playing at Reading Rep Theatre from the 16th April – 9th May
★★★
