Noël Coward's Private Lives is one of those plays that never lose their popularity, even almost a century after they were written. It has been staged multiple times on Broadway and the West End, and has been adapted to screen and radio, with many of the greatest actors of the century starring in the main roles.

This production at Teatru Manoel - which coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of the playwright's death on 26 March 1973 - will feature a cast of some of Malta's finest actors under the direction of Malcolm Galea. The play follows Elyot and Amanda, a divorced couple on their honeymoon with their respective new spouses, Sibyl and Victor. The two newly-wed couples happen to be staying at the same hotel in adjoining rooms. Naturally, chaos and hilarity ensue.

"It's a play about the absurd, wild side of love; how the pendulum swings between tenderness and romance on one side, and violent rows and hissing on the other. The writing is sharp, the characters and their conflicts are familiar; it's a quick-witted period piece anyone from any decade can relate to and enjoy," says Myron Ellul, who will be playing Victor, almost paternal in his protectiveness of his new wife. "He presents a strait-laced and rational persona before the world as a suit of armour, something I think many of us can relate to."

On the opposite side of the spectrum is Elyot, who will be played by Edward Thorpe. Elyot is flippant and argumentative, and very much still in love with his ex-wife. "I was lucky enough to have understudied the role of Elyot on a UK national tour of Private Lives a few years ago, so I really got to know the characters well and also Coward's writing," shares Thorpe, who admits to having always wanted to play Elyot. "From the romance to the tears, from the flippancy to the rage, Coward manages to pull out all the ranges of emotion in his writing whilst keeping an audience enthralled by his brilliant use of language."

Kim Dalli, who will be Sibyl, agrees. Her role is that of Elyot's new adoring wife and, while she may seem shallow and compliant by today's standards, her character is a reflection of the time when the play was written. "Sibyl is very much a woman of her time, which is something I had to keep at the forefront of my mind when developing her as a character, setting aside my own belief system to see the world from her privileged, romanticised and outmoded viewpoint," admits Dalli. "She is coquettish, flighty, spoilt and childish. I was somewhat inspired by Marilyn Monroe's portrayal of Lorelei Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes while trying to externalise these traits."

The role of Amanda, on the other hand, represents a generation of women who had fought and just earned their right to vote. She is a strong woman who knows her mind and is not afraid of speaking it. "I love how she encapsulates the glamour of the period whilst also being a refreshing character," says Greta Agius, who will be taking on the role. "She is passionate and sharp-witted, yet also independent and unconventional in her thoughts. What makes Amanda relatable to the modern-day woman is that she ultimately wants to be in love while following her passions and having new experiences."

Private Lives is comedy gold, requiring the actors to work closely together and to keep the fast-paced tempo as they riff off each other. "Preparing for this play can sometimes feel like you're training for a marathon, but I have to say that Malcolm Galea has been great as our director, and his organisation and methods have helped a lot," admits Agius. "I'm grateful for the confidence and trust that working with such a small cast brings with it."

Teatru Manoel and MADC's co-production of Noël Coward's Private Lives plays at Teatru Manoel on 17, 18, 19 and 24, 25, 26 March 2023, with all performances at 7.30pm. Tickets are available online at www.teatrumanoel.mt or www.madc.com.mt. This production is presented by arrangement with Alan Brodie Representation Ltd (www.alanbrodie.com) and is suitable for audiences aged 11 and above. For more information on Noël Coward, visit www.noelcoward.com.