Review: Lantern Theater Company's Charming Production of PRIVATE LIVES

Be whisked away to a glamorous resort in northwest France and meet Elyot (Ben Dibble) and Sybil (K.O. DelMarcelle) and Amanda (Geneviéve Perrier) and Victor (Leonard C. Haas), two newlywed couples honeymooning in adjacent suites.  As soon as Noël Coward's zany romantic comedy Private Lives begins, the plot thickens – Elyot and Amanda, once a passionate yet turbulent couple who haven't seen each other since their divorce five years prior, realize the other is in the next room!  Witty repartee, flip flopping commitments, rollicking fight scenes and golden age charm are combined in this enjoyable Noel Coward classic.

The intimate setting at the Lantern Theater Company's St. Stephen's Theater well befits this play, putting you virtually right inside the suite with each couple.  Ben Dibble and Geneviéve Perrier are flawless in their articulate execution of the language, character development and highly choreographed movement.  The production overall was simply charming thanks in part to the great import placed upon the details in the period-specific set, props and costumes.

Be sure to catch this delightful production as it's sure to make you laugh out loud and leave with a smile on your face.  Performances of Private Lives by Lantern Theater Company run through December 31.  For tickets and more information, visit http://www.lanterntheater.org/.

Photo Credit: Mark Garvin