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Show: Private Lives
Society: Company of Ten at Abbey Theatre
Venue: Abbey Theatre St Albans
Credits: Noel Coward
Type: Sardines
Author: Samantha Cartwright
Performance Date: 10/11/2021
Private Lives
Samantha Cartwright | 12 Nov 2021 03:06am
Private Lives by Noel Coward, set in the 1930s. It revolves around the relationship and history of a divorced couple who go on honeymoon with their recently new partners and realise they are staying in the same hotel as each other. Even though the divorcees were previously not compatible they have an insatiable desire to rekindle the romance and decide they will take the risk at all costs.
Entering the elegant Abbey Theatre in St Albans, I feel welcomed. It is a permanent performance space for Company of Ten, a well-established group, originally formed in 1934.
The stage is on view as we take our seats and I’m in awe of the set. The design, construction and painting team, Lesley Ivinson, John McClenahan, Angela Stone and team’s have created the perfect environment for this tale to be told. Each detail is taken into careful consideration, creating beautiful surroundings.
Wardrobe, Lesley Ivinson, Laurie Ling and Anne Walkington have clearly put in a great deal of effort on the costumes. Every piece is ideal and accurate of the time period, I have an aesthetic appreciation for every outfit.
The script is witty and sophisticated. It seems to be making fun at marriage as a whole at times. We are witness to three relationships and all have faults and uncanny similarities. The constant back-and-forth between the two couple’s works well and creates a quick paced plot. This also allows the characters to be established almost instantaneously.
In places during the performance I feel myself urging things to move on, it seems slow or drawn out somewhat. A scene change in complete darkness for quite a long time, the entrances and exits could possibly be slightly smoother as well. Some dialogue has more pausing than necessary. However this doesn’t take away the fact that this is a thoroughly entertaining performance.
With a cast of only five and a script so bold there is no place to hide for the actor’s. Each role is performed confidently and to a good standard. Elyot Chase – Mark Waghorn has an abundance of stage presence and his comic timing is spot on, especially with the vast amount of comedy being dry humour. The chemistry between the cast is natural and should be as I believe the two leads are married in real life. This allows for a very realness to flow through the relationship being portrayed. An enjoyable play with more than a few laughs to be heard.