Private Lives (Donmar Warehouse)
Private Lives (Donmar Warehouse)
Closed 2h 0m London: Seven Dials
76% 7 reviews
76%
(7 Ratings)
Positive
71%
Mixed
29%
Negative
0%
Members say
Funny, Entertaining, Clever, Ambitious, Great acting

About the Show

Stephen Mangan stars in this revival of Noël Coward’s dark comedy.

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Critic Reviews (14)

London Theatre
April 15th, 2023

“...it swings the pendulum wildly in the other direction — yielding interesting results, but trampling over much of the play’s pleasures in the process.”
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The Arts Desk
April 21st, 2023

"Some will complain (and have) that the result negates the comedy coursing through this time-honored text; I would argue that the laughs are still there, tempered in this instance by an awareness of the lacerations oftentimes inflicted by love."
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Time Out London
April 14th, 2023

"Longhurst’s production isn’t revisionist. But it strips away the protective barrier of everything being one big joke; it injects naturalism to this most stylised of comedies, and in doing so makes it much bleaker."
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The Telegraph (UK)
April 14th, 2023

“Stephen Mangan and Rachael Stirling lead a revival that features not the usual harmless lovers' ding-dong but distressing domestic violence.”
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West End Best Friend
April 14th, 2023

"'Private Lives' has many wonderful moments. With a simple, witty and often hilarious script and strong performances from such a small cast. It should be outstanding and yet leaves you feeling a little uncomfortable. Maybe that’s the point; you’ll have to go and see for yourself."
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WhatsOnStage
April 14th, 2023

“It is drama of such knife-edge ferocity that it’s impossible to turn away. You want to cry, even as you are laughing.”
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The London Evening Standard
April 14th, 2023

“This show was clearly planned as a crowd-pleaser, a reappraisal of a classic and a star vehicle, but it doesn’t fully satisfy on any of those counts.”
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The Times (UK)
April 14th, 2023

“...Rachael Stirling and Stephen Mangan as Coward’s fatefully reunited divorcees, puts its pain more firmly centre stage than usual. The results are mixed, and lower on laughs than you expect. And yet it’s an interesting evening.”
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