We round up the reviews for Tom Littler’s production of the trilogy of three plays by Noel Coward.
The Guardian: **** “Overall, the institution of marriage does not come out well. Neither does the long-suffering spouse, most often a wife. Watching all three consecutively makes for almost five and a half hours of theatre which, entertaining, well-executed and giving depth to Coward’s oeuvre, is a marathon in mid-life regret.”
The Telegraph: **** “The staying-power of the principals in this triple-bill at the Orange Tree should win awards – Tara Fitzgerald has never been better.”
The Stage: **** “Tom Littler directs an engaging and precisely performed revival of Noël Coward’s sharp, searching sequence of plays at Orange Tree Theatre, London, starring Tara Fitzgerald and Emma Fielding.”
Theatre Weekly: *** “The ideal way to appreciate Suite in Three Keys is to watch three plays on the same day. Allow yourself to pull away from each story and enjoy their distinctive styles, and have a drink with the sentimental guitar-playing of Felix in the bar, just like the characters on the stage.”
The Reviews Hub: **** ” The sense of daring that flavours much of the writer’s theatre work survives and thrives in these late plays. As a whole, Suite in Three Keys is uneven, but its flaws are by far outweighed by its strengths.”
Partially Obstructed View: “But if the conclusion isn’t a big dramatic catharsis, that’s in keeping with a story that must have felt quite bold in even dealing with a subject that was only just starting to dare to speak its name.”
Cultural Capital: “Performed by Fitzgerald, Fielding and Stephen Boxer, these are complex and dialogue-heavy stories that are certainly a feat of memory and control even before the various demands of character distinction and trajectory are considered, but together they produce two very enjoyable and distinct theatrical events, each offered the opportunity to deliver a standout performance.”
Suite in Three Keys continues to play until the 6th July.