Coward's 'Easy Virtue' Revival: Timeless Wit, Modern Heart

Trevor Nunn's lavish production of Noël Coward's early play, 'Easy Virtue,' captivates audiences with its timeless emotional depth and sharp wit. The set, a sumptuously detailed drawing-room from the 1920s, perfectly complements the period costumes and finger-wave hairstyles, setting a luxurious stage for the unfolding family drama.

Greta Scacchi commands attention as the horrified matriarch, reacting to her son's marriage to a divorcee, played with cool self-possession by Alice Orr-Ewing. The latter's character, Larita, emerges as a modern heroine, navigating stifling country life and familial animosity with declarations of independence.

Despite the comedy's potential to feel dated, the play's psychological honesty and pathos resonate powerfully today. Coward's repartee serves not just to expose hypocrisy but as a shield for underlying heartbreak and loneliness, a theme clearly evident in Larita's poignant admissions about love.