Noel Coward's Double Exposure
Plays Currently at Berkshire Theatre Festival and Barrington Stage Company
By: Charles Giuliano - Aug 21, 2008
What is it about Sir Noel Peirce Coward (December 16, 1899- March 26, 1973) that makes his work such an enduring presence? There are two productions currently on stage: "Noel Coward in Two Keys" (1966) at the Berkshire Theatre Festival through August 30 and "Private Lives" (1930) at the Barrington Stage Company through August 24. During the 2007 season the Williamstown Theatre Festival presented "Blithe Spirit" (1941) while Nicholas Martin directed "Present Laughter" (1939) for the Huntington Theatre Company and the American Repertory Theatre produced a summer review in cabaret format "A Marvelous Party: The Noel Coward Celebration."
Although Coward's particular style of urbane, often bitchy, gay wit waxed and waned over the decades, in recent years, it seems more on than off again. There is a familiar cycle in which there is a time when a style of art is fashionable and chic. As circumstances change there is a reversal when the work is outdated. Only to be rediscovered for its enduring classic qualities.
In this unvarnished revival of Coward audiences are encouraged to look the other way at the baggage and issues of another era. While embracing the elegant language, style, and wit of olden times that, for a lot of reasons, may best be forgotten.
At Barrington Stage's "Private Lives", for example, we are assumed to accept as terribly sophisticated that the actors are constantly lighting up. There is a warning about cigarette smoking mounted in the lobby. It seems that there are very good reasons not to smoke. Among other issues it causes cancer. Am I being a stick in the mud about this?
During "Private Lives" after guzzling a copious amount of brandy, how chic, the leading man, Elyot Chase (Christopher Innvar), provokes an argument with his ex wife and current lover, Amanda Prynne (Gretchen Egolf). It starts with a slap and evolves into a horrific or hilarious row depending upon just where you stand in the matter of spousal abuse. Things fly all over and get broken; much to the shock of the arriving current spouses of this feuding couple. The other couple was abandoned on the night of the honeymoons and are trying to track down their respective bride and groom.
This may not sound right in print but on stage, if done well, can be brilliantly amusing if you can accept all that carcinogenic smoking and wife beating. Which may, indeed, be asking a lot? But Barrington's director, Julianne Boyd, is no shrinking violet in such matters.
Note that "Private Lives" was first staged in 1930. Arguably, it was the last gasp before the Great Depression of such globe trotting sophistication. Like the popularity of F. Scott Fitzgerald, what was the Cat's Meow during the Roaring Twenties was "Brother can you spare a dime" just a few years later. A decade of global depression morphed into World War II which hardly evoked a mood for sophisticated comedy. Coward, however, produced "Present Laughter" in 1939 just as the world went to war and "Blithe Spirit" in 1941 during the Battle of Britain.
The mood of "Noel Coward in Two Keys" (1966) is strikingly different from "Private Lives" when Coward was at full stride. "Private Lives" may have marked the passing of a giddy, high flying era but it has proved to be one of his most successful and enduring works. While "Present Laughter" (played wonderfully by Victor Garber for the Huntington) is viewed to be autobiographical, the leading character Sir Hugo Latymer (Casey Biggs), in the second of the two plays at the BTF "A Song at Twilight," features another sad and somber aspect of Coward's persona. It deals with the potential outing of a mean spirited, vindictive, famous writer. The production seemed less about comedy than a poignant view of the sham marriages that gay men endured in order to mask their true sexual identity. Again, the agenda belongs to another era and the audience is asked to accept the historic circumstances.
The real challenge of Noel Coward is that it must be done absolutely brilliantly or not at all. In the original production of "Private Lives" Coward starred as Elyot Chase opposite Gertrude Lawrence as Amanda. Sir Lawrence Olivier was the jilted husband Victor Prynne while Adrianne Allen performed as Chase's abandoned bride Sybil. One may just imagine how the sparks would fly with that magnificent cast. Particularly, those moments when Coward, as Chase, floated over to the grand piano in the Paris flat and rattled off a few of his tunes.
While Christopher Innvar as Elyot in "Private Lives" is a handsome and charming leading man he lacks that je ne sais quois that the role requires. He may look the part but if you close your eyes and just listen he's, well, no coward. Or, is that Noel Coward? While the willowy, sultry, and slinky Gretchen Egloff is both a sight as Amanda and passes the all important blindfold test.
Of these several, recent Coward productions the most memorable leading man and supporting actor were Victor Garber and Brooks Ashmanskas in the Huntington's "Present Laughter." Garber was wonderfully dapper and glib as the fading actor about to depart for a global tour. This summer the gifted comedian Ashmanskas appeared in two Williamstown Theatre Festival productions.
It has been speculated in the media that Nicholas Martin, the artistic director for the Williamstown Theatre Festival, will bring his Huntington production of "Present Laughter" to the Berkshires next summer. It was a great hit in Boston and would surely be successful for WTF. Of course, we are speculating and it will be up to Martin. But please, pretty please, with sugar on top.
So, yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. And, just as there will always be an England, there will always be Noel Coward.