Cleveland Play House’s ‘Private Lives’ is a joyfully romantic ride

There is nothing quite like classic theater. Case in point is Noël Coward’s romantic comedy masterpiece “Private Lives”’ currently being produced by Cleveland Play House and on stage in the Outcalt Theatre at Playhouse Square, Cleveland, Ohio.

In 1930 while Coward was recuperating for two weeks from influenza he contracted in Shanghai he began sketching out the work. With that accomplished, the actual writing of the piece took only four days. He then contacted Gertrude Lawrence in New York asking her to keep the coming autumn season free so that she could appear with Coward in the play. A few more weeks were needed for revisions and the final draft was finished in the Cathay Hotel in Shanghai. A copy was sent to Lawrence as well as his producer John C. Wilson asking for their opinions.

Over time Coward received 30 telegrams from Lawrence concerning the play, one of which suggested that “there was nothing wrong with it that can’t be fixed”. To wit Coward cabled back that the only thing he was going to fix was her performance. Returning to London Coward found that Lawrence had cleared her schedule and was staying at Edward Molyneux’s villa in Cap-d’Ail in the south of France where she was learning her lines. Coward joined her and the rehearsals began with Coward as Elyot Chase and Lawrence as Amanda. They were joined by Adrianne Allen who played Chase’s new bride Sible with Laurence Olivier as Amanda’s new husband Victor.

In the middle of rehearsals Lord Chamberlain notified Coward that he had taken exception to the love scene in the second act calling it too risqué. Coward traveled to St. James Palace where he acted out the entire play himself to assure the censor that the scene was indeed tastefully done. Lord Chamberlain was convinced and the rehearsals continued.

Middle aged Elyot and Amanda had been married for three years when they went through a bitter divorce. After five years they both remarried, Elyot to a younger Sible and Amanda to a younger Victor. As fate would have it both couples are celebrating their honeymoons at the Hotel Deauville in France with adjoining suites.

On the room’s terrace overlooking the bay, Sibyl (who seems to suffer from low self esteem) is constantly asking Elyot how she measures up to the ex-wife to the point of Elyot’s distraction slowly killing the romantic vibe. On the next terrace Amanda and Victor are all lovey dovey although Victor cannot let it drop that Amanda’s ex was cruel to her.

At one point Elyot and Amanda discover each other on the terrace and both end up begging their new spouses to leave the hotel and travel to Paris that night without telling why. Sibyl and Victor refuse the request and storm off to eat alone leaving Elyot and Amanda to their own devices. After a drink they both realize that their divorce was a mistake and the two end up abandoning their spouses and running off to Amanda’s flat in Paris. They make a pact that if things get too heated one of them will say “Solomon Isaacs” which ends the argument for a few minutes so they can calm down and reassess. The phrase is soon shortened to “Sollocks” because of its overuse.

So how well does this classic hold up today? With no timeline mentioned in the program it is a story that could have taken place back when it was written in 1930 clear up to today. It is a universal story of love, ego, hate and attraction that is timeless.

As for the cast they are superb. Jordan Barbour as Elyot is a perfect blending of lover, ex, newly married, easily angered and frustrated. Kate A. Mulligan as Amanda is his perfect match in both temperament and strength. Jamie Ann Romero as Sibyl is quick to love and even quicker to cry as her world begins to unravel. The same is true of Mikhail Roberts as Victor as he portrays a man a half step behind. Also appearing is Madalyn Baker as Amanda’s French maid who is convincing in both attitude and language.

Christopher Liam Moore does a super job as director keeping the action racing forward at a break neck speed. The just over two hours with intermission fly by. Lex Liang’s stage design is sumptuous with a brilliant changeover between acts one and two. Jakyung C. Seo’s lighting design is bright and airy and Jacqueline Herter’s sound design is crisp and clear. Oona Natesan does a wonderful job designing the costumes that are 30s nostalgic with a modern bent. Laura Welsh comes on board as the all important intimacy coordinator with Nick Steen as the equally important fight choreographer. Matt Koenig goes wonderfully light on the English accents and Nathan Henry’s music and piano coaching is convincing.

Classic theater is so named for a reason and there is no finer example than this romcom of warring personalities. It will be a delight for established married couples, newly weds, first daters and even singles. In short everyone will be gladdened by this show with its surprise ending.

The Cleveland Play House production of “Private Lives” will be on stage in the Outcalt Theatre at playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio through November 22, 2026. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://www.clevelandplayhouse.com/ or call (216) 241-6000.