Silver Spring Stage Presents Noel Coward's Private Lives 9/24-10/10

Silver Spring Stage presents Noel Coward's sophisticated comedy Private Lives, directed by Ty Hallmark and Stephanie Svec and produced by David Dubov and Jacy D'Aiutolo, where Elyot and Amanda, once married and now honeymooning with new spouses at the same hotel, meet by chance and reignite the old spark. Private Lives will perform weekends September 24 to October 10.

Silver Spring Stage is located in the Woodmoor Shopping Center, lower level (next to the CVS) at Colesville Road and University Boulevard. Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors/students. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8:00 PM, Sundays on September 26 and October 3 at 2:00 PM and October 10 at 5:00 (note the special time). Tickets can be purchased at www.ssstage.org. Information is also available by calling (301) 593-6036.

When Private Lives debuted on Broadway in 1931, Brooks Atkinson of the New York Times wrote: "Noel Coward 'has nothing to say, and manages to say it with competent agility for three acts.' Yet, this play has established itself as one of the finest comedies of the 20th century and emerged the most known of this prolific author. Though Coward himself described the play as "the lightest of light comedies", it has struck and stuck a chord generation after generation. It is funny. It is about sex. So much so, that before it opened in 1930, the Lord Chamberlain took exception to the second act love scene, labeling it too risqué in light of the fact the characters were divorced and married to others. Coward had to plead his case by acting out the play himself and assuring the censor that with artful direction the scene would be presented in a dignified and unobjectionable manner. It is, however, enduring love that captures our hearts. Amanda and Elyot, divorced and newly married to younger spouses, realize that they are truly made for each other alone. Elegantly draped in wit, Private Lives still tugs at our heart strings for that wonder of soul mates and true love. Of the legion of famous actors who have portrayed these characters from Coward himself, Gertrude Lawrence, Laurence Olivier, Tallulah Bankhead, Maggie Smith, John Cullum, Alan Rickman, and Lindsay Duncan, it was ElizaBeth Taylor and Richard Burton epitomized the kindred souls and enduring enchantment with Private Lives.

Following a brief courtship, Elyot (John Stange) and Sybil (Raven Bonniwell) are honeymooning in a hotel in Deauville, although her curiosity about his first marriage is not helping his romantic mood. In the adjoining suite, Amanda (Heather Benjamin) and Victor (David Finn) are starting their new life together, although he can't stop thinking of the cruelty Amanda's ex-husband displayed towards her. Elyot and Amanda, following a volatile three-year-long marriage, have been divorced for the past five years, but they now discover that they are sharing a terrace while on their honeymoons with their new and younger spouses. Elyot and Amanda separately beg their new mates to leave the hotel with them immediately, but both new spouses refuse to cooperate and each storms off to dine alone. Realizing they still love each other and regret having divorced, Elyot and Amanda abandon their mates and run off together to her apartment in Paris. Before long it becomes clear that while Elyot and Amanda cannot live without each other, neither can they live with each other. They argue and end up in a near brawl when Sybil and Victor walk in. The couples resolving and realizing their tangled loves unravel hilariously.

The cast also includes Cecilia Bailey as Louise. The production team includes Andrew Greenleaf (Set Design), Roddy Rasti (Sound Design), Heather C. Jackson and Wendy Stengel (Costume Design), and Jennifer Crooks (Choreographer).

The Stage's 2010-2011 season continues with the suspenseful Wait Until Dark (Oct. 29-Nov. 20), family special A Christmas Carol (Dec. 10-Dec. 19), engrossing Blackbird (Jan. 7-Jan. 29), passionate Romeo and Juliet (Feb. 18-Mar. 12), hilarious The Farndale Macbeth (Feb. 1-Feb. 23), elegant Three Days of Rain (May 13-Jun. 4), and exciting One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Jun. 24-July 23).

About Silver Spring Stage
Silver Spring Stage has provided quality, affordable theatre for over 40 years. We are an all-volunteer, non- profit organization and appreciate any contribution to enable us to offer excellent and entertaining productions. Thank you for your interest and support of Silver Spring Stage. All programs at Silver Spring Stage are made possible in part by grants from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County and the Maryland State Arts Council.

Website: http://www.ssstage.org

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