By AJ Jaffari

What happens when a classic comedy is reimagined through a decidedly contemporary lens?

Pear Theatre’s Private Lives takes Noël Coward’s nearly century-old comedy and challenges some of the conventions audiences may associate with the piece. Director Dennis M. Lickteig’s production reimagines Amanda as Andrew, transforming the central relationship and offering a different perspective on the power dynamics, passion, and dysfunction at the heart of Coward’s story.

I’ll admit that I don’t have much experience with Noël Coward’s writing, and perhaps his particular style of comedy simply isn’t my theatrical sweet spot. While I appreciated the wit and heightened nature of the piece, I found myself struggling to fully connect with the story and its romantic entanglements. Sometimes discovering a classic also means realizing that a particular playwright or style may not resonate with you in the way it has with others, and I think that was ultimately my experience with Private Lives.

What I did appreciate was Pear Theatre’s continued willingness to challenge the expected boundaries of classic works. Reimagining Amanda as Andrew is a bold choice, and I admire a company willing to ask what an older play might look like when viewed through a different lens.

The production also creates a visually interesting world. Technical and set designer Louis Stone-Collonge gives the performers an effective environment in which to play, complemented by Greet Jaspaert’s costumes, Edward Hunter’s lighting, and Jason Blanton’s scenic painting. I also enjoyed many of the song choices!

While Private Lives ultimately wasn’t a story that resonated strongly with me, I continue to appreciate Pear Theatre’s willingness to take risks with familiar material. There’s value in a company approaching a classic not as something that needs to be preserved exactly as written, but as something that can be questioned, reexamined, and given a new perspective for contemporary audiences.