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Review
'Noel Coward's glittering gem' Sam Marlowe, The Times, 28.1.09 'The brilliance of Coward's conceit... is as sparkling as it ever was.' John Nathan, Jewish Chronicle, 30.1.09 'The play is marriage in three parts, but with better jokes and an interval.' Nina Caplan, Time Out London, 5.2.09 'In a word - go.' Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph, 3.3.11
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
From the writings of this well-known personality.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Vine™ Review
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Noel Coward's acerbic, celebrated tale of warring ex-lovers is an adaptable work. An MGM movie version in 1931, starring Robert Montgomery and Norma Shearer, toned down the bile. A recent West End reading, with Matthew MacFadyen and Kim Cattrall, ramped it up. Here the translation is ideal, as leads Paul Scofield (Best Actor Oscar winner for A Man for All Seasons) and Patricia Routledge (a regular collaborator with Alan Bennett, though also responsible for appalling sitcom Keeping Up Appearances) oscillate effortlessly between billing and cooing, and throwing tantrums.
Routledge is Amanda, who finds herself honeymooning next door to her former husband (Scofield), at a French Riviera hotel. He's newly-married too, but the spark between the pair is still there - so they decide there's only one thing to be done, and hotfoot it to her apartment in Paris. Their passion is underscored by a fiersome volatility, though, and it isn't long until the pair are at each other's throats.
Coward's script is stuffed with epigrams, epithets and very '30s zingers, and the delivery is a joy. It might take weary sitcom afficionados a little while to dispel the memory of Routledge's Hyacinth Bucket as her plummy tones drift out of the CD player, but she's unquestionably fine here.
I liked it a lot.
Routledge is Amanda, who finds herself honeymooning next door to her former husband (Scofield), at a French Riviera hotel. He's newly-married too, but the spark between the pair is still there - so they decide there's only one thing to be done, and hotfoot it to her apartment in Paris. Their passion is underscored by a fiersome volatility, though, and it isn't long until the pair are at each other's throats.
Coward's script is stuffed with epigrams, epithets and very '30s zingers, and the delivery is a joy. It might take weary sitcom afficionados a little while to dispel the memory of Routledge's Hyacinth Bucket as her plummy tones drift out of the CD player, but she's unquestionably fine here.
I liked it a lot.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"If he comes near me, I shall scream the place down!" proclaims Elyot Chase, who quite by chance meets his ex wife Amanda Prynne as they are both desperately trying to enjoy their second honeymoons, quite by chance, in adjacent bedrooms in France. Their respective spouses haven't realised stickiness of the situation, as Amanda and Elyot quickly rekindle their passion for each other and take off for Paris. The pipe smoking Victor Prynne and piano playing Sibyl Chase are left behind bewilderedly licking each other's wounds.
Elyot and Amanda's tense and volatile relationship swings violently from sickeningly loving to expertly aggresive in the course of their reunion. The somewhat lost and confused Sybil and Victor then arrive at Amanda's Paris flat, with reconciliation and living happily ever after set fast in their minds.
After each member in the menage a quatre almost trips over the maid, the vesuvius that is the situation erupts. Madness, near-violence, French, and plopping are all guarenteed.
Private Lives is Noel Coward at his best. Coward himself was very fond of this 'good little play' even if he did have to 'hit Larry Olivier on the head to get him to play Victor Prynne.' If you are looking for an introduction to the genius of Noel Coward's writing, then this is the best starting point. If an established Coward fan then this is a vital addition to your collection.
Read it, buy it, play it - it cannot be ignored!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Vine™ Review
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Ah, this is beautifully done, and Routledge and Schofield have the BEST voices for the characters. Very, very enjoyable, and very light, and funny, and the perfect listen for a summer's drive.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Stylish and funny
This is an engaging treat. The story revolves around two couples: the sparkling Amanda on honeymoon with her stuffy husband Victor, who spots her first husband Elyot on honeymoon... Read more
Published 2 months ago by R. Tait
Private lives
I saw Hayfever in London, Haymarket Theatre, funny. So this is the same Playwrite. If you like plays and like Noel Cowerd this is good. Read more
Published 24 months ago by streetlamp
Good but far from perfect
Being a fan of Coward and this play I couldn't resist this. I have to confess that while I enjoyed, I was a bit disappointed with it - Paul Scofield wasn't as good Elyot as I... Read more
Published 24 months ago by Miguel M. Santos
Sparkling!
This really brightened up a very dull couple of hours behind the steering wheel. Paul Scofield and Patricia Routledge are both wonderful as a pair of feuding former lovers reunited... Read more
Published on 27 May 2010 by captive8122@hotmail.com
Someday I'll find you
"Someday I'll find you
Moonlight behind you
True to the dream I am dreaming"
"Strange how potent cheap music is" - Sir Noel Coward
Private Lives,... Read more
Moonlight behind you
True to the dream I am dreaming"
"Strange how potent cheap music is" - Sir Noel Coward
Private Lives,... Read more
Published on 17 May 2010 by Constant Reader
Very entertaining
This 1930s relationship comedy isn't quite up to the dizzy heights of Oscar Wilde (in my view), but is very funny and contains some marvellously bitchy and incisive dialogue. Read more
Published on 28 April 2010 by S. Day
Pretty good overall. Nicely 'acted'.
Like a lot of people I listen to my CDs in the car.
This is, of course, something of a compromise, as you need to find a decent balance to enjoy all the audio (both loud and... Read more
This is, of course, something of a compromise, as you need to find a decent balance to enjoy all the audio (both loud and... Read more
Published on 25 April 2010 by Peter Coupe
Private Lives, Full cast BBC audio recording - A glimpse of another...
In this rather entertaining comedy of manners from the pen of the Master, Noel Coward, four interesting (yet somehow dull... Read more
Published on 22 April 2010 by Victor
Not for me!
I love radio plays. I like some of Cowards work. I thought this was worth a try never having seen the play but aware of its fame and popularity. Read more
Published on 21 April 2010 by Wilz
Mrs Bucket takes on Coward
Before Hyacinth Bucket, before Hetty Wainthrop, Patricia Routledge took on the challenge of bringing Coward's deliciously brittle Amanda alive in Private Lives. Read more
Published on 13 April 2010 by David Spanswick
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