VICTORIAN PLAYERS 'Private Lives' director has high praise for cast

The play is typical of a Noel Coward comedy.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
The Victorian Players will at last present their performance of Noel Coward's "Private Lives" to open the fall season.
This play originally was to be last season's finale, but because of serious health issues of a member of the cast, they were forced to cancel. Now they are all set and raring to go, and Marilyn Higgins feels honored to be the director of this production. She says she is thrilled with her talented cast.
Higgins describes this play as "basically comedy, but with serious elements." She reads a quote from French's Catalogue to describe Coward: "He delighted in shocking his audiences by writing, directing and starring in plays and musicals that were quite daring for the time, if not unspeakable." She thinks parts of "Private Lives" are a bit daring, too.
The play begins on a hotel terrace where Amanda and Elyot, who were once married to each other, are now both honeymooning with their new spouses. They meet by chance, and the old spark reignites.
Passionate couple
"They are very selfish people," says Higgins. "They can only see what they want, and totally disregard the people they just married. It was their selfishness that broke up their marriage in the first place. But there is also a fire, a passion between them, and a lot of anger. They fight. She cracks him over the head. We have a plethora of old records that have been scored so they break easily."
Barbara Malizia is playing the part of Amanda Prynne. "She is a spitfire in real life," says Higgins. "She can bring the passion and anger to this character." Malizia has been with Victorian Players only since March, but has also worked with The Youngstown Playhouse. When she is not acting, she is a fitness trainer at area gyms and spas.
The leading man, Elyot Chase, is played by Dr. Robert Sechrist, who is retired from YSU. "He was an English professor, and has such a way with words," says Higgins. "He is so good at bringing his character across." Sechrist has been with Victorian Players for about 10 years.
The new spouses
Sybil and Victor, the spouses of Elyot and Amanda, are played by Carol Matthews and Gary Deckant. "Carol has been with us several seasons and is just a riot," says Higgins. "She is a ball of energy with an outgoing personality, and is a local massotherapist. Gary is a member of the American Translators Association and translates German. He has bent over backwards to be open to ideas in playing his role as Victor.
"The only other character is the maid who has to clean up the mess made when Amanda and Elyot fight and break things. She is played by Karla Judd, who has formerly done technical stuff, but decided to be onstage for this play. She and her husband, Rex, are known for playing Mr. and Mrs. Santa for nursing homes and day-care centers over the holidays."
Higgins feels that it is this diverse group of people bringing their personalities and talents that will make this play such a delight.
And she is equally excited about the set, props and costumes.