The Private Ear The Public Eye - Review by Lauren Hall

***** (5 Stars)

Theatre Royal, York - Tuesday 29 October, 2013

Peter Shaffer’s comedy double bill from 1962 still has class and charm, holding the audience’s attention every second of the way. The two stories are compelling and lovely to watch; both quite different but with the common theme of love.

The Private Ear is set in a musky London bedsit where reclusive Bob, normally used to giving his full attention to his record collection calls in a favour from a savvy friend to help him treat his date, the beautiful but shy Doreen, to a slap up meal.

The Public Eye takes place in a swanky London accountancy office where uptight Charles is confronted by Julian, an eccentric private detective hired to investigate his young wife’s infidelity. Bob expects help. Charles expects proof. But in this darkly comic double bill, nothing is as it seems.

The whole cast are incredible and characters are played to their full potential. Steven Blakeley particularly deserves a mention. In both acts it is easy to feel connected with his character: the first was Bob, who you couldn’t help but feel sorry for, and the second Julien who was an absolutely hilarious character with a realistic personality and sense of humour.

As well as the acting the set is pretty impressive, especially when changing into the next play at the start of the second act (you really saw the magic of theatre at that point!). The costumes are stunning and very fitting for the period of the play and the feel-good music really compliments the piece. From Ted dancing around to the radio to Bob conducting his record player!

I absolutely loved these two pieces and would have happily paid to see them again and again!

You can follow The Private Ear The Public Eye on Twitter: @PearPeyetour