Idling around the upper section above the Liffey River in Dublin, I had a ticket to see “Private Lives.” I got there early and they were serving tea in china cups in the lobby for early patrons. The doors opened into an old but renovated theatre with no center aisle but cushioned seats. I was row C, seat 11. The set, 1930s, was big and bold with matching hotel rooms and a balcony that went the entire proscenium. An older gentleman came and sat in seat 10. We talked. Peter was from London and had come to Dublin for the opening of an art exhibit. He was an artist. Soon the play began. The scene change between Act I and II took 20 minutes but it was worth the wait. Act II and III ran back to back. Peter and I sat and talked about books, theatre, art…nice conversation and made the wait so short. At the end of the play when everyone was filing out of the theatre, suddenly we stopped and stared. A couple in the center, 40s and a bit on the stocky side, had started kissing in their seats, stood and were embraced and heavily kissing while the rest of us looked on. Now, the play is all about passion but folks, let’s get a grip. Here’s the review the Independent did back in April. These are the same actors and the set is the one for Act II and III.
Leara Rhodes 