PRIVATE LIVES by Noel Coward Directed by: Fred Gorelick October 27 - November 19 A hilariously passionate look at high infidelity, as ex-spouses Elyot and Amanda, each newly remarried, discover their respective honeymoons are taking place in adjacent hotel rooms. Perhaps the crowning achievement of one of the theater's great wits. The Deep Dish Book Selection, "You Just Don't Understand: Men and Women in Conversation" by Deborah Tannen, will be discussed on Thursday, Nov. 17 in Tyndall Galleries.

Deep Dish Theater Company presents
Noël Coward’s comic masterpiece, “Private Lives”

 
CHAPEL HILL— The Deep Dish Theater Company continues its fifth season with Noël Coward’s comic masterpiece, “Private Lives.”  The play, a hilarious look at high infidelity, is directed by Fred Gorelick and will run from Thursday, October 27, through Saturday, November 19. 

Deep Dish is located in Chapel Hill’s University Mall, located on Estes Drive and US 15-501. Thursday through Saturday performances begin at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. There will also be a special early show at 7:30 on Wednesday, November 16. For reservations and information, call 968-1515.  Tickets for all performances are $15, $13 for seniors, and $10 for students.  Thursday, November 3 is “Cheap Dish Night,” when all tickets will be $6; no advance reservations will be taken for that performance.   

Audience discussions will follow the Sunday performances on October 30 (featuring a conversation with the production’s design team) and November 6.  The Deep Dish Book Selection for this production is “You Just Don’t Understand,” by Deborah Tannen, and a discussion of the book, free and open to the public, will be led by David Carr and Evelyn Daniel prior to the performance on Thursday, November 17. 

Perhaps the crowning achievement of one of the theater’s great wits, “Private Lives” introduces us to the wealthy and witty Amanda and Elyot (Dorothy Brown and Mark Filiaci), who are reunited five years after their divorce in a romantic French hotel.  Unfortunately, they’re each there on a honeymoon with a new spouse (David McClutchey and Anne-Caitlin Donohue).  Sparks of all sorts are soon flying, as Coward explores, with great comic insight, his quartet of passionate, private lives. 

Director Fred Gorelick is the acting coach and a production director at NC State’s University Theatre, where he most recently directed “Dial M for Murder” and will stage “The Laramie Project” this spring; he has also served as artistic director at Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance and Raleigh Ensemble Players.  The design team for “Private Lives” includes Paul Stiller (sets), John McIlwee (costumes, assisted by Sue Sweezy), Steve Tell (lights), Deborah Coclanis and Danny Tauber (sound), and Devra Thomas (properties). Jennifer Bauer is the stage manager.

“Alongside ‘The Importance of Being Earnest,’” says Gorelick, “‘Private Lives’ rates—to me—as the finest modern comedy of manners, with the addition of the sublime sizzle of sexual foreplay.  The challenge is to balance Coward's brilliant verbal pyrotechnics with the lingering sadness just beneath the veneer.”