Private Lives

An Intimate Comedy

The lights of a yacht on the French Riviera are reflected in the water and in the eyes of four hilariously mismatched lovers. Perhaps Coward's greatest comedy, Private Lives shimmers with wit, romance, desire, and bittersweet truth.©2002 Noel Coward (P)2003 L.A. Theatre Works. All rights reserved.

little chemistry

I first saw this play with Tammy Grimes and Brian Bedford, and their chemistry remains with me to this day. The recording was well done, and everything was present . . .but somehow there was little sense of that chemistry that makes the plot more than just words. Don't know whether the play or the performance is at fault here, but reading it on paper I did not encounter the same difficulty.

Classic Coward Comedy

Anyone who enjoys the wit of Noel Coward will love this delightful farce. The dialogue is authentic, and the characters move the plot along nicely.

For those who aren't familiar with Coward's work, I highly recommend this as an introduction to his humor. It's a ninety minute tour-de-force; it will have you laughing out loud and leave you wanting more.

Great Performance

I loved hearing all the different characters come to life rather than reading the play myself. I would highly recommend following along with the book to see the stage directions.