Taut, funny, impeccably presented

“The first act of Noël Coward’s Private Lives ranks amongst the tautest, funniest, impeccably presented bits of theatre ever seen at the Stratford Festival…

Alas, after the interval, where the suddenly reunited Amanda and Elyot have resumed their relationship after a five-year hiatus (being only married for three years sounds a false note in Coward’s backstory), are seen in a Paris flat learning how to bicker in style all over again. Except in this iteration, both are wise enough to develop a “time out” code that may well keep them from Divorce Court II.

There are still many fun moments (notably past music keeping the lovers’ flames burning bright—at times ably accompanied by Wyn Davies’ not inconsiderable piano skills), but the forward momentum sags compared to the opening salvo.”