Private Lives

I went to the Diana Wortham a few weeks ago to see what was marketed as a big touring live radio version of Noel Coward's Private Lives, produced by a big, fancy L.A. theatre. What I got for my $30 ticket was was possibly the most disappointing and un-thought out piece of theatre I have ever suffered through.
The main problem was simply that they did not commit to any choices: Was it a period show? The script indicated yes, but the costumes and props (including microphones) did not, at least not consistently. Was it a radio show, or a traditional theatre show? Well, it was neither. It had neither the blocking of a traditional show, nor the affectations of a radio show.
It was clearly under-rehearsed, the delivery of the lines was consistently heavy-handed and embarrassingly hammy, and the smart, witty script was left limp and unbelievably boring in the hands of this travesty of a company.
Clearly these people were interested only in cashing their paychecks, and they had no concern for the damage they were doing to the reputation of serious theatre nationwide.
A disaster.

--Willie Repoley