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Stars explained *
A production of no real merit with failings in all areas.
**
A production showing evidence of not enough
time or effort, or even talent, and which never breathes any real life into
the piece – or a show lumbered with a terrible script.
***
A good enjoyable show
which might have some small flaws but has largely achieved what it set out
to do.****
An excellent show which shows a great deal of work and stage craft with
no noticeable or major flaws.*****
A four star show which has found
that extra bit of magic which lifts theatre to another plane Half stars fall between the ratings |
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Two's company, four’s a farce Private Lives
Highbury Theatre Centre
**** IT’S nice timing as autumn strikes,
following a fine British summer, that The Highbury players should offer
up Private Lives by Noel Coward, a witty inspection of newlyweds and
divorcees Honeymooning in late August in the heat of the South of
France. Of course it’s not as simple as that as two of
the newlyweds were once married and now unbeknownst to everyone
involved, have arrived one evening at the same hotel and worse still
been placed in adjacent rooms. Edward Hockin and Joanne Richards play Elyot
Chase and Amanda Prynne, who are a recently divorced couple, and have
separated more out of frustration than anger as their relationships was
and seems still is, a wild and passionate one, but one that swings into
bouts of temper and quarrelling. Each of them has found more comfortable and
sedate pairings. Elyot has married the much younger and inexperienced
Sibyl played by Izzy Richards who although pretty is more a trophy than
a life partner. Amanda has snared the respectable but very
straight Victor played by David Weller who promises to be a devoted
husband set on making his wife happy. When Elyot and Amanda meet again their passion
ignites once more and they elope leaving their spouses to pick up the
broken threads. Coward’s take on the whole situation is a casual
` so what ‘ regardless of any wrong doing and caring little for the
consequences of the couples’ actions or the turmoil they leave behind.
He concentrates more on the bitterness and underlying jealousy that
rears its head under the veneer of the playful well- to- do. The majority of the play is a series of Duologues
over three acts. Edward Hockin was the most committed to his character
and revelled in the camp gesturings of a handsome cad travelling the
world and reflecting on his romantic conquests. He also captured the
audience with his performance on the piano and singing. He was
equally matched by Izzy Richards as his naïve and needy bride. Joanne Richards as Amanda handled her role well
but clearly held back at times when the manic passion between her and
Elyot was needed. David Weller was a solid Victor but again could have
lost the control a little more when it was needed. Praise goes finally to Sandra Haynes as the maid
Louise delivering a fair amount of her dialogue in French all be it with
a slight Brummie twang. Playing romantic liaisons in an amateur setting
is always a challenge but I am confident this production will find a
little more extra fire as the week goes on. To 01-11-14 Jeff Grant
21-10-14 |
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