Design for Living Review – Noel Coward’s Provocative and Sensual Comedy

Garikayi Mutambirwa, Brooke Bundy, and Kyle T. Hester in DESIGN FOR LIVING - Photo by Cooper Bates
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Written by Noel Coward in 1932 as a stage play to star himself and his close friends Lynn Fontanne and Alfred Lunt, DESIGN FOR LIVING premiered on Broadway in 1933. The play is reportedly somewhat autobiographical, which adds to its fascination. Of the three principal characters, Coward commented:

            These glib, over-articulate and amoral creatures force their lives into fantastic shapes and problems because they cannot help themselves. Impelled chiefly by the impact of their personalities each upon the other, they are like moths in a pool of light, unable to tolerate the lonely outer darkness but equally unable to share the light without colliding constantly and bruising each other’s wings…the ending of the play is equivocal…as author…I…think that Gilda and Otto and Leo were laughing at themselves.

Kyle T. Hester and Sheelagh Cullen – Photo by Cooper Bates

DESIGN FOR LIVING was considered too risqué for London censors, and it wasn’t produced in London until 1939. The show was a hit on Broadway and described by Brooks Atkinson, New York Times theater critic, as “a play of skill, art, and clairvoyance, performed by an incomparable trio of comedians…skill, art, and even erudition of a sort have gone into this gay bit of drollery.” About the sometimes mixed reception to his play, Coward observed, “It was liked and disliked, and hated and admired, but never, I think, sufficiently loved by any but its three leading actors.”

Sheelagh Cullen, Shireen Heldari, Max Pescherine, Kyle T. Hester, and Garikayi Mutambirwa – Photo by Cooper Bates

The time is the 1930s, and the places begin in Paris, continue in London, and end in New York. The triad of artistic rebels have a complicated three-way relationship. Gilda (Brooke Bundy), Otto (Garikay Mutambirwa), and Leo (Kyle T. Hester) are friends with benefits who love and hate each other with equal passion as the situation demands. Sometimes they share a bed, while at other times they run off because they drive each other crazy. Theirs is an affiliation which offers fun, support, and madcap humor as alliances shift with the phases of the moon. When Gilda marries Ernest (Andrew Elvis Miller), their unconventional three-way bond faces a crisis. How will Coward solve it?

Andrew Elvis Miller and Brooke Bundy – Photo by Cooper Bates

The cast does a bang-up job of portraying the three zany principals with enthusiasm and high energy. For your added delight, there is a hidden gem in the mix: Sheelagh Cullen in a cameo as Miss Hodge is absolutely hilarious. Director Bart DeLorenzo helms the piece with a strong appreciation for Coward’s work: “The glamour of his world is pretty irresistible – the cocktails and evening dress, the theatrical presentation of self, the witty banter.” Frederica Nascimento’s scenic design is simple and serviceable, with Denise Blasor’s costumes lending some spice to the proceedings. Leigh Allen’s lighting and John Zalewski’s sound spotlight some unabashedly sensual moments. This is a unique production and should appeal to Noel Coward fans. It is clever, funny, and very much in line with current views about love in all its aspects.

Kyle T. Hester, Brooke Bundy, and Garikayi Mutambirwa – Photo by Cooper Bates

DESIGN FOR LIVING runs through August 25, 2024, with performances at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays (July 17 and August 7 only), Fridays, and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. on Sundays. The Odyssey Theatre is located at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Aneles, CA 90025. Tickets range from $20 to $37 (Pay-What-You-Can open online and at the door starting at 5:30 p.m.). For information and reservations, call 310-477-2055 ext. 2 or go online.

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