Directed by Peter Rothstein, the Coward comedy will run through Sept. 2 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage with an official opening scheduled for July 27. The cast will feature New York theatre favorite Veanne Cox (Company and Caroline, or Change) as Amanda as well as Stephen Pelinski as Elyot, Kris L. Nelson as Victor, Tracey Maloney as Sybil and Sally Wingert as Louise.
"As Private Lives begins," press notes read, "wealthy English socialite Amanda Prynne (Veanne Cox) is on her honeymoon — again. On a hotel terrace in the resort town of Deauville, France, Amanda is trying without much success to steer the topic of conversation away from her first marriage, to the rakish Elyot Chase (Stephen Pelinski). But much to her consternation, her new husband, the prim and proper Victor Prynne (Kris L. Nelson), cannot help but delve into her former travails. It's true, she admits: she adored Elyot. But their union was much too tempestuous. Now she’s ready for a calmer love.
"There is another honeymooning couple at the hotel as well: as fate would have it, the aforementioned Elyot has just arrived with his new wife, Sybil (Tracey Maloney). She, too, has peppered her spouse with questions about this former marriage; with devastating honesty, Elyot confesses that Amanda was indeed the love of his life. But this time he is looking for a less dramatic liaison — 'something steady and sweet, to smooth out your nerves when you’re tired.' Naturally, Elyot and Amanda discover one another on the terrace and their mutual passion is quickly reignited. New love is no match for the fireworks of their past relationship as verbal sparring and comedic dexterity begin to flash and spark."
The creative team also includes John Arnone (set designer), Devon Painter (costume designer), Marcus Dilliard (lighting designer), Reid Rejsa (sound designer), Jo Holcomb (dramaturg), Lucinda Holshue (voice and speech coach), Marcela Lorca (movement), Peter Moore (fight director), Michele Harms (assistant stage manager), Justin Hossle (assistant stage manager) and Aaron Gabriel (assistant director).
The Guthrie is located at 818 South 2nd Street (at Chicago Avenue) in downtown Minneapolis. Tickets, priced $24-$69, are available by calling (612) 377-2224 or (877) 44 STAGE. Visit www.guthrietheater.org for more information.
