“Private Lives”

[rating=4]What the world needs now, is laughter, love and sweet memories. The Raven Theatre is coming back after the pandemic with all of this and more with their production of Noel Coward’s “Private Lives”, probably one of the greatest English “comedy of manners” plays ever written. The story is about two people, very much in love, but unable to stand each other. Sound like someone in your life? Probably not, but often it is said that love and hate are very close to each other on the emotional scale. In the case of this play, Amanda Prynne ( a terrific Emily Tate) is so in love with Elyot Chase (deftly handled by Rudy Galvan) that they  divorce each other.

The story begins with us knowing nothing about these two lovers. It opens with Louise ( Bradley Havlerson making their debut at Raven) setting us up for comedy tonight! We see adjoining balconies or terraces at a resort as we meet Elyot and his newlywed Sibyl ( Alexis Green ,another newcomer to this company) as they are on their honeymoon. They are still talking about Elyot’s former wife, Amanda not knowing that she and her new husband, Victor ( Matthew Martinez Hannon) are in the suite next door, just inches away.

The first act is filled with delicious humor as we see these lovers, or should I say ex-lovers cross paths sharing suites at the same hotel, at the same time, telling their new spouse about the hate and resentment that took place in their former marriages. Then, by chance, they meet once more and all hell breaks loose. Laughs galore as we watch the love turn to hate and the greater the rage the more hot they get. This is truly a story about Amanda and Elyot first. Sibyl and Victor are needed to make it work and director Ian Frank creates some magical moments.

The sets by Joe Schermoly are terrific. This is a play where during the intermission, the crew does a complete turnover. This is something we don’t see a lot of in our smaller venues and I congratulate Raven and its tech people on a job well done. The lighting (Becca Jeffords) and sound (Daniel Etti-Williams) are great. The props (Bren Coombs does a great job) were fun  and Kristina Fluty’s intimacy and movement choreography was quite seductive.I also want to congratulate the cast for projecting to the back of the room. This is something many young actors do not do, making it difficult for older audience members to keep up with the story. They don’t want to miss a line.

The second act takes place in two scenes  at Amanda’s flat in Paris. The first scene is all about the path they have chosen. I will let you figure this out. The second scene is the next day when the other “mates” arrive. What transpires next is a hoot and a holler ( a little bit country) but clearly gets to the point that I believe Coward was trying to make. Can two people love enough that they can live with anything and everything the other throws at them? Think about it. Have you ever loved someone so deeply that you could never see yourself without them? Then later realized they were bad for you? Can lovers be honest enough to admit that they might be better off apart?

Find out for yourself and laugh your A– off at “Private Lives” which will continue at The Raven Theatre thru November 13h with performances as follows:

Thursdays  7:30 p.m.

Fridays  7:30 p.m.

Saturdays  7:30 p.m.

Sundays  3 p.m.

Tickets range are $40 and can be reserved by calling 773-338-2177 or info@raventheatre.com

Students, active military and veterans  $15

Masks are to be worn while in the building.

Special performances:

Closed Caption: October 23rd TOUCH Tour- Sunday October 30th at 1:30 p.m. for 3 p.m. performance

For more info visit www.raventheatre.com

Free parking in lot ( subject to availability) and street parking ( metered, but not night)

bus lines make it very easy to reach The Raven Theatre located at 6157 N. Clark Street

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Private Lives”