BWW Previews: Theatre Tallahassee's PRIVATE LIVES Shapes to Be Witty Fun

"The show must go on," Brian Davis exclaims. And it must. One of the lead actresses (there are only two) has caught some dreadful illness and is absent from the final dress rehearsal. Last minute roles have been flipped, the leading men are baffled but put together, and the music plays. This Noel Coward production has truly turned into a Noel Coward show.

The unfortunate event caused chaos, but not disarray. The show ran with full tech, the cast was still superb, and the architecture of Davis' direction held firm. Noel Coward may not be anybody's favorite playwright in this century, but through Davis' inventive cast and pacing, Private Lives has the making of a truly classic comedy.

Private Lives is one of Noel Coward's staple plays, a farce set-up in a romantic light. Lives follows two newly-wed couples who, in their honeymoon suites, discover that two are a divorced couple. When finding each other again, the divorcees rekindle the fanned flame until the passions become unbearable.

Leading men, Bob Myers and Scott Mock, both present varying styles of British humor that click well together and necessitate more interaction between the two than the script allows. Myers, as the apathetic Elyot, feels like classic English pomp. Mock, on the other hand, is a John Cleese stuffed shirt bustling through his frustrations in a riotous performance. Myers is by no means the weaker for it, but a perfect straight man for the show's antics, a leading man who the show can revolve smoothly around.

The show's women (that I was able to see) were just as well coiled to spring at Coward's wit. Southie Williamson was thrown into a separate role, but moved her chemistry accordingly to pounce on Myers' Elyot. To see her back, matching against Mock will be interesting, but her talents don't deceive even during a haphazard tech run.

Davis' hidden gem, a stick of dynamite waiting for the final half hour, is Constance Clineman as the French maid Louise. Her incredulous expressions, physical humor more befitting Ken Ludwig than Coward, changes the energy in the room and gives brief bursts of hilarity between the banter.

Those familiar with Derek Nieves sets know to expect grand design, exquisite detail, and balanced with lighting designer Todd Teagarden, the show looks crisp as the cast does in costumes by Theresa Davis. All in all, the visuals are popping. The sound design by Heather Marks could benefit from some balancing, but it isn't yet opening night, so there's time for her to work out any kinks.

Private Lives is a quick show, running a tad over an hour thirty, and a perfect date night event. Tallahassee's spring season hasn't quite picked itself off the ground, but Davis and crew certainly have set themselves up to be a strong opener for the year. Coward's script, while dated, is a joy to watch with Myers, Williamson, and Mock at the helm.

Private Lives will run Jan. 26th-Feb. 12th at Theatre Tallahassee. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.

UPDATE: Samm is recovered and will be going on as planned!

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