Wellington Repertory Presents Coward Classic, Private Lives

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Wellington Repertory Presents Coward Classic, Private Lives

From 20 to 30 June, Wellington Repertory Theatre presents Noel Coward’s comedy of manners, Private Lives. This production comes a quarter of a century since Wellington Repertory last staged this play in 1986, and is a unique opportunity to see this classic on stage.

A scintillating comedy, the plot revolves around divorcees Amanda and Elyot, who both happen to be honeymooning in the same hotel in France with their respective new spouses. On the balcony of their adjacent rooms, the old love-hate relationship is rekindled and they abscond to Paris. Typically for Coward, elegant repartee hides hideous manners.

In a unique twist, the lead role of Amanda Prynne in this production of Private Lives is played by Amanda Lafoy Brown, a linguist and translator whose high school French teacher Maguerite Tait-Jamieson played the same role in Wellington Repertory’s 1986 production.

Others in the cast include: Hayden Rogers (Victor) in is his 20th show for Wellington-based community theatre; Meredith Dooley (Sybil), who swaps behind-the-scenes work as Operations Manager for the Royal NZ Ballet for a turn in the limelight; Malcom Gillett (Elyot) who was most recently in Wellington Repertory’s sold-out production of Blackadder III; and Joan Foster (Louise the French maid), a doyenne of Wellington theatre groups for many years.

“As well as great material and a superb cast, we are privileged to have assembled an accomplished crew that will help bring the play alive in true Coward form. This includes set design overseen by cast member Joan Foster’s son, Andrew Foster, who is a director and award-winning professional set designer,” said director Annabel Hensley.

The production runs 20-30 June (excluding Monday 25 June, and production times vary) at the Gryphon Theatre, Ghuznee Street, Wellington.

To book tickets, email bookings@wellingtonrepertory.org.nz, or call 479 3393. Tickets prices are $25 waged, $20 unwaged, $18 for pre-paid groups of 10 or more.

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