Private Lives
By Noel Coward
Cast
Sibyl Chase – Lucy Durack
Elyot Chase – Leon Ford
Victor Prynne – John Leary
Amanda Prynne – Nadine Garner
Louise – Julie Forsyth
Production
Director – Sam Strong
Set and Costume Designer – Tracy Grant Lord
Lighting Designer – Paul Jackson
Composer and Musical Director – Mathew Frank
Choreographer – Andrew Hallsworth
25 January to 8 March 2014
The Sumner
Private Lives is
an illuminating, eighty-four year-old, classic that bobs up in production, here
and there, again and again. It is the
simple story of a divorced couple honeymooning, at exactly the same time, with
new partners, in adjacent hotel rooms that share a connected balcony. What ensues is emotional and physical mayhem
that highlights the social mores of the 1930’s. At the same time it tenders more than a
little insight into the nature of passionate love and its capacity to overwhelm
and flail.
In its components there are mixed and subtle suggestions
that allow this production to transcend from a mere ‘museum piece’ to something
considerably more current and effecting.
Even though he barely tampers with the text Director Sam Strong achieves
a palpable connection with a present-day audience. The overall design (Costume and Set by Tracy
Grant Lord and Music by Mathew Frank) is grand, spacious and predominantly of
the 1930 with a smattering of ‘post modern’ additions. Most evident of these, incongruous to a
purist, additions are in the form of contemporary love songs.
Somewhat surprisingly the work has allowed itself to be
opened up and teased out by the present-day sensibilities of a well cast
ensemble of actors. It stands up to
scrutiny from a contemporary audience and is engaging and often hilarious then
sublimely poignant - in turns.
Nadine Garner fully embodies, with gusto and humour, a
delightfully wicked and provocative Amanda Prynne. One of my highlights is her belligerent yet
enthralling dancing of a ‘seemingly spontaneously improvised’ piece by
Choreographer Andrew Hallsworth.
Leon Ford displays split second comic timing and makes a
very credible and engaging Elyot Chase.
He works superbly with Garner to convey a volcanic chemical attraction
in Elyot and Amanda’s relationship that is fuelled by flights of fancy and
willfully destructive narcissism. Both actors express this with, well-matched,
volatile high energy.
Lucy Durack’s Sibyl Chase is a lovely ‘well brought up gal’,
who finds herself in a bafflingly unexpectedly, unconventional situation. The dulcet tones of Durack’s speaking and
singing voices enhance her characterization.
Sibyl’s journey of a very young and new wife who is a little too self
assured and un-spoilt to a maturing woman jilted and rendered vulnerable, is
movingly portrayed by Durack. Likewise
John Leary as Victor Prynne ‘fits the bill’, firstly as little more than a foil
to exposition then progressively to a more wholly realized self assured and
bumptious character.
In the first act the comic timing is beautiful, the jokes
and one-liners come quick and fast. In
that shocking moment when two ex lovers are confronted by the unexpected
embodied presence of each-other it feels as though the whole audience is
sitting up and paying very close attention, and relating through their own
experience. On opening night the second
Act lagged just a tad, in comparison to the first. In the third act there is a sense of
resolve. This last Act is enriched by
Julie Forsyth’s interpretation of Marie the maid. She just about brings the house down with
witty physical buffoonery.
The whole production displays thorough preparation and
masterful management, particularly of the revolving stage.
A great start to the year for Melbourne Theatre Company.
Suzanne Sandow
(For Stage Whispers)
