In the UK... Village Hall, Stonegate, East Sussex August 2006 Fallen Angels FREE TO Hay Fever - present to 5 Aug - Starring 1 Sep to 31 Dec - Bill Kenwright Ltd, UK Tour MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY Present to 13 Aug - St Anns Well Gardens, Brighton 2007 Price £3 ($5) The Vortex - Will Young - The Royal Exchange Theatre Present to 4 Nov - Theatre by the Lake, Keswick from the 17th January to March 10th 2007. Tickets are AUGUST 2006 - THE NEWSLETTERCHAT OF THE NOËL COWARD SOCIETY Tonight At 8.30 available on 0161 615 6815 or 0161 833 9833 home Present to 2nd Sep - Chichester Festival Theatre Private Lives Part 1 The Astonished Heart (, Red 19 to 27 Feb 2007 - The Bancroft Players, The Queen Peppers, The Astonished Heart) Mother Theatre, Hitchin, Hertfordshire Part 2 Shadow Play (Hands Across the Sea, Shadow Blithe Spirit n a balmy day in the church of St. Paul’s, Play, Fumed Oak) BO:01243 781312 or www.cft.org.uk. 25 to 28 Apr 2007 - Knutsford Little Theatre, Knutsford, Covent Garden, on Friday 30th June 2006, a Coward in the 2lst Century: A pre-show talk by Cheshire congregation drawn from those who perform playwright and Noel Coward Society member Marcy and those who watch, and those who loved, Kahan. Her talk will examine how the Tonight at 8.30 In North America... O knew and admired gathered to celebrate plays form a fascinating compendium of Coward's life, July 2006 his life. obsessions and philosophy.Chichester Festival - Design For Living In a remembrance service that recalled both his Saturday, 12th August at 11 a.m. Minerva Theatre. Jun 15 to Nov 18 - Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ont. - The professional and personal life, tributes were paid to his Carry On Coward Shaw Festival opens its 45th season. skill as a singer, actor, director and guardian of the Noël 16 Aug (7.30 pm) - The Granary, Wells, Norfolk Fallen Angels Coward legacy - but it was his personal warmth, 18th (8.00 pm) & 19th ( 2.30 & 8.00 pm) Aug - The July 21 and runs Fri/Sat until August 19 with a Sunday modesty and honesty that was recalled with greatest Auden Theatre, Holt, Norfolk Mat. on Aug.13 and a Thursday. show on Aug. 17. affection by those who spoke about him. www.rumpustheatrecompany.co.uk/ Orinda Village Starlight Players in an outdoor This edition of Home Chat joins in that celebration Fallen Angels amphitheater in the small town of Orinda, California with transcriptions of the tributes and contributions that 14 to 26 Aug - Theatre Royal, Windsor. made up the service plus another from Italia Conti. Star Quality August to December 2006 The music at the Memorial Service was played by Present to 4 Sep 2006 Ian Dickens Prod. Ltd: Mark Etherington and Michael Haslam. Michael gave a 1 to 5 Aug - The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury 16 Nov to 17 Dec – Mad Cow Theatre, Orlando, Florida piano recital of songs by Noël Coward and Graham Private Lives Fumed Oak Payn before the service started. Present to 4 Nov - Theatre by the Lake, Keswick Mon. Nov. 6 1.00 pm - Food For Thought at The 7 to 12 Aug - Dawlish Rep. Co., Shaftesbury Theatre Players, located at 16 Gramercy Park South, which is on ...he was just about the best Dawlish, Devon East 20th Street between Park Avenue and Irving Place Blithe Spirit directly across the street from historic Gramercy Park, friend I ever had in my life... 8 to 12 Aug - Connaught Productions, Frinton Summer New York. Graham Payn on Noël Coward Theatre Blithe Spirit 22 Nov to 9 Dec - Belleville Theatre Guild, Pinnacle The Reverend Simon Grigg began by quoting: September 2006 Street, Bellville, Ontario This would seem to be the moment, Star Quality Hay Fever The hour, the place, the height, Present to 4 Sep 2006 Ian Dickens Productions 19 to 23 3 Nov to 4 Dec - Center Stage, Baltimore College The setting is romantic, Sep - Buxton Opera House 19 to 28 Oct - Borelians Community theatre, Port Perry, The atmosphere is right, BO:0845 127 2190. Ontario for a full list see www.noëlcoward.net Items in red are professional companies - for a full list see www.noëlcoward.net The breeze provides a tune for us, Blithe Spirit Private Lives So let’s make the most of our chances 11 to 23 Sep - Ilkley Players, Wharfside Playhouse Oct. 6-Nov. 30 - Wayne State University Theater, Detroit And hold on tight. Theatre, Ilkley, Yorkshire Present Laughter So many stars are shining private life and relationships too. 19 to 23 Sep - Incisor Productions at the New Theatre 21 Sep to 7 Oct - Stage Centre Productions, We couldn’t ask more And let’s face it if you can’t talk about your boyfriends in this Royal Portsmouth, 023 9264 9000. Scarborough, Ontario This seems to be the moment in time church then where can you (laughter) - just don’t tell the Church of We waited for. England! (laughter) There is also an element of love and October 2006 2007 The lyric from the song that you just heard, the only celebration here but also a recognition of the sadness of the parting Blithe Spirit Private Lives published song that Graham Payn ever wrote, and of death as well as in Christian tradition, hope of resurrection. I 5 to 7 Oct & 10 to 14 Oct - Tabs Productions, Chatham 13 Jan to 2 Feb, 2007 - Bloor West Village Players, indeed this does seem to be the moment. invite you, in your tradition to pray - (after a pause): Theatre, Kent Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario For we have gathered here together to celebrate, Father in heaven we thank you because you made us in your 17 to 21 Oct - Cotswold players, The Cotswold Waiting In The Wings commemorate and give thanks for the life and career of own image and gave us gifts in body, mind and spirit. We thank you Playhouse, Stroud, Gloucestershire 28 Feb to 17 Mar, 2007 - Victoria Theatre Guild, Graham Payn. So it is my pleasure to welcome you to St. now for Graham and what he meant to each one gathered here. As Private Lives Langham Court Theatre, Victoria, BC Paul’s Church this morning for this memorial service. we honour his memory make us more aware that you are the one Present to 4 Nov - Theatre by the Lake, Keswick This famous church known throughout the world as the from whom every perfect gift comes including the gift of eternal life In the Rest of the World... Fallen Angels actors’ church is the proper place to remember Graham through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 1 Sep to 31 Dec - Bill Kenwright Ltd, UK Tour Australia who made a significant contribution to 20th century Dany Dasto, Graham’s friend welcomed everyone: October and November theatre. Partly of course this was as an interpreter of I am Dany Dasto, Graham’s friend and Graham and I would November and December 2006 Private Lives Noël Coward’s work and of course there is a plaque to like to welcome you here today. He told me this morning, ‘Dany Private Lives 19 Oct 2006 - 14 Nov 2006 - Queensland Theatre Co & ON? WHAT’S Noël in this theatre - I mean this church (laughter) - well don’t be too long, otherwise, you know, they will leave at the Present to 4 Nov - Theatre by the Lake, Keswick State Theatre Co of South Australia, Brisbane there are similarities! But the memorial service should interval’ (laughter). We are here to celebrate a long life and the joy Blithe Spirit 10 Nov 2006 - 2 Dec 2006 - Queensland Theatre Co & be balanced so we will be looking back at not only he brought to anyone who knew him. Thank you for coming - I will 16 to 25 Nov - Stonegate Amateur dranatic Society, State Theatre Co of South Australia, Adelaide Graham’s professional life but also at his personal and be short! Page 12 Coming in our next issue: ‘Private Lives in Public’ by Ken Starrett and a review of the UK Ian Dicken’s tour of Star Quality OBITUARIES A favourite hymn of Graham’s The Day they were written. In later years, when Graham Home Chat is the newsletter he obituaries for Julian Slade, who died in the this.’ I once asked him who the most important person in his Thou Gavest Lord Has Ended was sung by the so happily found in Dany the kind of life of The Noël Coward Society Clinic in the early hours of 17 June 2006, said all the life had been. He replied ‘Dorothy Reynolds’ – with whom he congregation. companion he had been wholly owned by things that one would have expected, principally that had written those early musicals. It had been she, after all, Sheridan Morley’s to Noël, we used to Noël Coward Ltd. which is The wrote nothing of real note beyond Salad Days. The who had been there throughout his own salad days, days for tribute to Graham: meet either at the Swiss part of the charitable trust: understanding of British which he will be forever When Graham died a chalet or here in The Noël Coward Foundation. in its home remembered. few months ago, the London and compare country is limited, and To date I have seen only Unless otherwise stated all Julian Slade and papers all noted not notes on the people images and text are copyright most of the writing one obituary of Peter surprisingly what a we’d met and the plays to NC Aventales AG lamentable. Slade was a Greenwell, who died at his wonderful friend and we’d seen. When Ruth All correspondence to: much better writer than we home in Spain on 4 June companion he had been to (Leon) and I left our The Noël Coward Society, have been told, and was Peter Greenwell 2006. That piece was Noël Coward, but I think it first marriages and got 29 Waldemar Avenue, especially proud of his misleading and inaccurate, matters this morning to together he was the Hellesdon, Norwich, many Shakespeare songs, almost unknown and missed the target by highlighting his career recall what a wonderful first to make us NR6 6TB, UK to the British public. Slade always felt the as a cabaret performer above his work as a friend he was to all of us, welcome, and when we email: johnknowles@noëlcoward.net critics made out he was an unsophisticated composer. Greenwell was a true musician in a Tel: +44 (0)1603 486 188 and, what a wonderful bought our first house ninny. Nothing could have been further way that Slade would never have claimed to man he was in his own he gave her a desk and Editor: John Knowles from the truth. be. I first met him in the 1970s, when – a right. He also of course me a leather armchair, Assisted by Ken Starrett He was a scholar, and a composer who callow student – I wrote what was probably a had a long and varied as if already knowing Publication and Distribution: struck a chord with mid-1950s hopes that pretty gushing fan letter, and he invited me to career across forty years: that she’d be there Stephen Greenman (UK) made Salad Days the extraordinary his house. That meeting went so well that it he was a singer and doing the work and I’d Ken Starrett (US) experience it was. The deep melancholia was over thirty years before I met him again, dancer in The Lyric be asleep in the corner. Music Correspondent: that underpins his music has remained but during that time I never lost my admiration Dominic Vlasto Revue and The Globe The Reverend Simon Grigg (laughter) When I had unappreciated, yet this show alone has three for his work, not least his music for the 1959 Revue and he appeared in darkly poignant songs ‘We said we musical play The Crooked Mile. a stroke a year or so Contributions are invited from countless Coward wouldn’t look back’, ‘I sit in the sun’ and, This had been a collaboration with Peter ago he was the first on the phone asking me members of the Society. productions, everything from Pacific 1860 to one of the most exquisite he ever wrote, Wildeblood, based on Wildeblood’s novel how I was and more importantly how Ruth was The editor reserves the right Peter Greenwell Waiting In The Wings very often in roles bearing up, knowing as usual that I’d be a to edit all copy and images ‘The time of my life’. ‘West End People’, and together they went on especially written for him by Noël. hopeless patient. I knew then that we could and decide on the I knew Slade well for thirty years, first to write two more musicals, House of Cards Speaking for myself, I have so many have asked him for anything, and although we inclusion of items. visiting him at his family’s home in Priory Walk, London, and and The People’s Jack, after which Wildeblood said that he reasons to be grateful to him. We first met didn’t, just knowing that Details of items included in later at Beaufort Street, both of which establishments he kept simply couldn’t go on writing musicals because they took so almost forty years ago, he was on the end of a What’s On? are as received, in a state of permanent disarray. Even when subsequent long to work on and then only ran for a short time, and – hey! with our thanks, from: when I was working on Swiss phone was success proved hard to come by, he never descended into – he had to earn a living. So, the British critic and the British the first Coward Samuel French UK and bitterness, and always (how different from some other British public between them had lost one of the most intelligent and immensely cheering. Canada (Play Publishers and biography, A Talent To musical composers one could mention) took a real interest in promising partnerships of the time: the Two Peters. It’s perhaps ironic Author's Representatives), Amuse, a book which that the man Noël Ken Starrett (US), new work and young composers. Free as Air has always The Crooked Mile will stand as a monument to both could never have been thought incapable of Alan Brodie Representation seemed to me to be his best score, containing such gems as Peters’ talent, for it is one of the bravest, most splendid, written without him. We hard work spent his last (Professional Productions), ‘Nothing but sea and sky’ and ‘Terhou’, but other neglected inspiring scores one could hope for. Greenwell was delighted later-worked together on years working harder NCS members and scores (notably Wildest Dreams) await rediscovery. when the original cast recording was brought back on CD. It two other books, Noël than anyone for the theatre companies. A couple of years ago I asked Slade to write a new work – led to a renaissance of interest in the show, and in him: a full- Coward and His Friends Noël Coward a musical lasting about an hour that I could take into the length programme on Radio 3 and glowing reviews of a show For details of rights for which we wrote with Foundation, but I think recording studio, a ‘made-for-CD’ work. He was thrilled to be that had been all but forgotten. In fact, one of the scores he darling Cole Lesley based professional productions asked, and I waved various ideas at him. What about an wrote for an earlier musical, The Three Caskets, seems to me above all else what I contact: on Noël’s own scrapbooks, adaptation of ‘The Auction Sale’, an autumnal story of English to be his real masterpiece, written for the Players Theatre shall always recall Alan Brodie Representation and then Graham and I about Graham is that www.alanbrodie.com life by C H B Kitchin?; what about a musical of ‘All Night at where for many years he was an outstanding musical director, co-edited Noël’s Diaries. more than anyone I For amateur productions Mr Stanyhursts’, a mysteriously beautiful novella by Hugh and for whom he wrote other such musicals as Antarctica and Working on those, I ever knew he contact: Edwards?; what about, even, a sequel to Salad Days, catching Twenty Minutes South. It has to be said that the management came across and of course understood the art of Samuel French Ltd. up with Timothy and Jane after fifty years? of the Players’ held faithful to his promise and his work, a deleted a passage in friendship, and that it’s www.samuelfrench.com or Alas, it eventually became clear that he simply didn’t have support that had its finest moment in The Crooked Mile. which Noël was (I all about giving as well www.samuelfrench- the will to write anything new. At the end of a life in which he The sad fact is that for over forty years Greenwell, in a london.co.uk thought) unusually and Sheridan Morley as receiving. Not had fought to establish and keep his reputation, one can different world, might have produced more scores just as unfairly critical of For publishing rights for Noël understand his reluctance to make yet another stand. In 1954 distinctive and appealing as those he wrote in the 1950s. perhaps in the West End Coward contact: Graham, describing him Leonard Bernstein invited him to write the lyrics for a musical Eventually Greenwell left England, delighting in writing sense, but in private life he was a great star. Methuen as hopelessly lazy and maddeningly unwilling Richard Briers then spoke: www.methuen.co.uk he was preparing for Broadway: the show was Candide. Slade letters or making telephone calls in which he excitedly let you to work at his career. The next time we met, Annie and I first met Graham when he and For music rights contact: explained that he couldn’t do it as he had a show in London know what it was like to be sitting on a balcony staring at the Graham asked me about the reasons for my red I played in a revival of Present Laughter at the Warner Chappell and couldn’t leave because he was playing the piano for it. It sea. ‘You have made me feel young again,’ he wrote when I pencil; well, I said cautiously, I thought that Queen’s Theatre in 1965. It starred - a www.warnerchappell.co.uk turned out that Bernstein had thought Slade was a lyricist. He reissued the original cast recording of Twenty Minutes South a perhaps as co-editor you wouldn’t fancy seeing marvellous cast - Nigel Patrick as Garry was, but Slade would have been too modest to describe few months ago. Like Slade, he never lost his interest in the in print that kind of description of yourself. Essendine, Phyllis Calvert, Maxine Audley and Officers of the Society are: himself so grandly. He relished the absurd. After a matinee of arts, and was passionate about what he believed in, even Chairman: Barbara Longford “Nonsense” said Graham; “it’s what Noël the marvellous Avice Landon and Sheila Keith Salad Days at the Vaudeville, he was talking to Jack Getty, the though as the years went by he (like Slade) had to cope with thought and believed and of course it must stay General Secretary: owner of the theatre who said ‘You know, Julian, I think that seeing the work of lesser writers find public favour. Both as the Swedish cleaning lady. Graham played Stephen Greenman in.” And so we left it in. opening song, ‘The things that are done by a don’, is a Slade’s and Greenwell’s work cries out for re-evaluation if the rather thankless part of Garry’s agent and I General Manager: In that one moment I saw two things - his was the mad playwright Roland Maule. John Knowles masterpiece’. ‘Really Jack?’ ‘Yes, I think it’s a work of there is to be any real understanding of twentieth century enchanting modesty, and his fiery Graham was selfless, warm and very funny. He North American Director: genius.’ ‘Why?’ ‘It’s such a brilliant way to start a show. British musical theatre. determination always to keep Noël’s words as always made us laugh at his story of his first Ken Starrett Audiences hear it and think, Well it can only get better than Adrian Wright (www.must-close-saturday-records.co.uk) Page 2 Page 11 And in the dark I lay by Dominic Vlasto audition for Coward at the That suddenly piercing loneliness, like a knife, n the June Home Chat, John Knowles told of the recent more than the show version in the Refrains. Basically, the Adelphi Theatre for Twisted my heart. for you were such a long long way Theacquisition Various by the Society of Versionsa rare, hitherto unreleased of ‘Uncleentire final musical Harry’ section of both Refrains is repeated to a part in one of away. recording of Coward singing ‘Uncle Harry’, and how we extra lyrics. In Calcutta, after the first “Uncle Harry’s not a Noël’s revues in Iwere investigating whether it was lyrically unique. This was missionary now!”, to repeated music we get Uncle Harry 1932 when he was This is to let you know not an easy knot to unravel. ‘Uncle Harry’ has been subject to thinking that the time had come to make a row “after a chat” a very young That there are no English words more change, not to mention incompleteness in the printed with dear Aunt Mary, and then you get the bit about “they would-be That ever could explain versions available, than any other Coward song I know: the didn’t brandish knives at him, they really were awfully performer, How, quite without warning, lovingly you were here combination of lyric and structural changes to the song over sweet”. All this happens before the middle Verse section fortunately he Holding me close, smoothing away the idiotic pain. an eleven-year performance period in themselves provide a (“Now Uncle was just a seeker…”) which in turn is followed wrote it down in fascinating insight into a little-appreciated facet of music- by the second Refrain. Here, the Calcutta NCR preserves a his book My Life This is to let you know theatre composition – that nothing is ever quite fixed in stone. wartime lyric version in which “The older girls just tossed With Noël Coward. That all that I feel for you In the recorded legacy, this “new” recording was actually their curls and gave the Nazi salute” before tearing their It is always worth Can never wholly go. the song’s fourth airing, and the third for Coward himself Mother Hubbards off and winding them around their heads, reading again: I love you and miss you, even two hours away, (NCR): the first was made with Norman Hackforth’s piano and the final section of Refrain is then repeated, where poor ‘In the front row of With all my heart. accompaniment in Calcutta in 1944 (in the form in which it dear Aunt Mary places a flower behind her ear, and, frankly, the “audience”: This is to let you know. was then currently being performed, one assumes), the second exposes her … several apparently was the ‘Original Cast’ recording (OCR) with Mantovani’s Today it seems strange that this extended structure and disinterested There followed a tribute by Geoffrey Johnson who was orchestra and Graham Payn as soloist (in the “show form”), more dramatically-integrated lyric was not adopted for the theatrical Richard Briers Noël Coward’s representative in the US. made in December 1946 in London. Coward then did his own show and Mantovani recordings, as it makes a firm comeback executives, I am Geoffrey Johnson and I have come from New York commercial release of the song for HMV a month later, again for the cabaret performances in 1951, the subsequent including one today to remember my good friend Graham Payn. I first met with Mantovani’s orchestra, and the Harry Allan Towers NCR Phillips/Wally Stott recording, and the American elegantly poised man. (I remember thinking he was smoking Graham in Philadelphia in 1961. I was working on Sail Away recording came just five months later, and again used performances, and is probably the version that everyone his cigarette in a funny way.) On our side of the “footlights”: and Graham arrived at the ‘City of Brotherly Love’ midst Mantovani and his orchestra. knows today. Was it just that in 1946-47 it was still an upright piano with an elderly lady accompanist who'd seen great, great try-out confusion. We were in the middle of getting The song’s next airing was in the Café de Paris cabaret considered reprehensible to talk about exposing one’s bust in it all before (more than once), and my rid of one leading performances of 1951-54, shortly before the fourth NCR public (so to speak)? And if so, then were wartime audiences mother, aggressively swathed in her best lady and blending recording of the song was made, for Phillips Records, in two years earlier really so different? Perhaps the wartime, full and only fur. And me. her role into another London in summer 1954, with Wally Stott’s orchestra and bust-exposing version was conceived with the knowledge that I was wearing the de rigeur costume leading lady’s role. I Norman Hackforth again at the piano. Then followed the two the immediate intended audience would react best to a more for any young aspiring male entertainer think it was a ‘first’ American NCR recordings, both with Peter Matz’s obvious, less subtle titillation. moving towards puberty: an immaculate in the history of accompaniments/arrangements, with the Carlton Hayes Added to these basic structural differences are also some Eton suit and a parting in my hair that American musicals. Orchestra in Las Vegas and for the TV Spectacular with Mary other lyric variants: at the time of the cabaret performances obeyed all the rules of geometry. were tense but Martin, Together With Music, both during 1955. (Curiously the first Verse section was rewritten (starting “We all of us words my mother had dinned into me Graham drove down enough, after this there were no further really notable have relations, those crosses in life we bear, a gloomy group before we entered the theatre rang in my from New York to recordings of the song until Peter Greenwell’s in 1995!) of Uncles, cousins and aunts”) and the bit in the second ears: “There’s not much scope for a boy Philadelphia in this Readers familiar with the song-form terms Verse and Refrain where boots and suits are burned and horrible smells soprano in a show like that...so sing and jazzy convertible. It Refrain can skip this paragraph. If you are not familiar: the generated is much improved lyrically. You have only to hear dance at the same time.” The moment was red I think and Refrain of a song is usually pretty obvious – it’s the “main” Coward himself delivering the line, “They also burned his the accompanist rattled the keys, I anybody who knew bit and almost always quotes the title of the song, usually at mackintosh, which made a dis-gusting smell” – a great launched into an all-out display of my Mr. Payn very well its start but often also at its close. Think of ‘Mrs moment of comic timing – to recognise the improvement. singing and dancing prowess. L to R: Dany Dasto, Barry Day and Robert Gardiner knew how much he Worthington’ or ‘Mad Dogs’ for obvious examples. The The main differences – the unique features – of the Harry Remembering to do both things more or loved cars of all Verse section is the “other” section of music, which usually Allen Towers recording of June 1947 are mostly in details of less together kept me too busy to notice sorts. In addition to (but not always) precedes or introduces the Refrain. the orchestration: it has a shorter instrumental introduction the audience's absolutely stunned reaction. Undoubtedly these Graham’s slight Sometimes, as in ‘Mrs Worthington’, a Verse section than the January version, introduces the “vamp” bars before theatrical ladies and gentlemen had been exposed to more obsession with (“Regarding yours, dear Mrs Worthington…”) is sandwiched the first Verse, and often uses a softer, more delicate than their fair share of child prodigies. But, clearly, never to cars his other off- between Refrains. Verse sections, especially for some of the orchestration, with flutes and woodwinds, for example, one singing “Nearer My God to Thee” while doing a tap stage mania was waltz love-songs, can be quite complex and extended affairs. playing passages originally scored for brasses. I find it dance. gardening, he was An interesting discovery with ‘Uncle Harry’ is that in its interesting that Coward clearly took enough of an interest in Visibly moved, the elegant man got to his feet, turned to his very good at it, or original form (as in the Calcutta NCR) it had no introductory how his own music was scored and structured that these colleagues and declared in clipped tones, “We have to have at least giving Verse section, but kicked straight off into the first Refrain changes happened at all, but that does not identify on whose that kid in the show.”’ That was when Noël Coward made the Jean-René in (“Poor Uncle Harry wanted to be a missionary…”) after a initiative they were made. best casting decision of his life! Switzerland orders four-bar intro. The introductory Verse section (“Our family A footnote: it was said that the Harry Allan Towers recordings David Christopher Ragusa accompanied by organist Simon on what to plant has traditions, we’ve heard them a thousand times…”) was featured “one other female singer who has not as yet been Gutteridge then sang Nearer My God To Thee. or not plant or to added for the show version, and remained lyrically stable identified”. Yes, she has. She is Victoria Campbell. A full Simon Callow then read This Is To Let You Know un-plant. I only through the production, its OCR and the two subsequent (uncleaned) set of Coward’s, Graham Payn’s, Joyce Grenfell’s and remembered Mantovani Orchestra NCRs. At this stage, however, this Victoria Campbell’s tracks, compiled onto CDs by Alan Farley, has This is to let you know recently that Jerry for some time been deposited with the main Coward archives. That there was no moon last night Hogan and I had Verse section said that “our ancestors were unequivocally Coward’s own tracks have been released on CD (but they didn’t have And that the tide was high given Graham a right” and “though quite a lot were eaten up, a few of them the proper ‘Uncle Harry’ and re-used the January 1947 version for succeeded”. that). Very little of the rest has ever been released. You can check the And that on the broken horizon glimmered the lights of purple lilac tree You might think, then, that the OCR and both Mantovani details on the NCMI, in the Discography sections, where the tracks ships for the Chalet NCRs are more complete than the Calcutta NCR; but you are collectively known as ‘NCRP’ the Noël Coward Radio Twenty at least, like a sedate procession passing by. garden. It was his Geoffrey Johnson would be wrong, because this “omission” of the first Verse on Programmes. This is to let you know seventieth birthday the Calcutta NCR is more than made up for by it having much That when I'd turned out the lamp he was overjoyed

Page 10 Page 3 and he sent us photographs - photographs from every angle when our rights had finally expired. Someone pointed out that and he assured us that the pictures he sent were a little too we had achieved something of a record in terms of seed money a short ramble through the Editor’s activities pale - not really very good - but he loved that bush. All I can in trying to make a film that we never quite managed to make. Conversation piece... say is long may those alpine flowers bloom in Graham’s But as my dear wife Pirjo wisely pointed out, “think of all the weekend to remember - undoubtedly - followed by a ‘When I showed this disc to memory. fun you’ve had in trying to make the film and above all think week of activity as I entertained Ken Starrett in Noël he asked: Graham always said, “I’ve of the friendships that Norfolk. On Thursday 29th June I went to London to “Where the .... did you get never been much at writing you’ve made.” Our one meetA Ken and prepare for the Coward events during the next this?” letters” and he took a great special friendship was of day. Ken and I were guests of Barbara Longford and her Neither he nor Coley could deal of criticism from Noël and course with Graham. It husband Patrick at their apartment in Kensington. As usual the remember if it was in their then Coley, who was the great was based on this that hospitality was excellent and suitably fortified we set off the collection. letter writer of all time. But I’m Graham asked me to next morning - a happy trio - in an air-conditioned people- here to dispute that today. I am become one of the trustees carrier to St. Paul’s Church. Such luxury - no struggling with a terrible keeper, I save of his ‘Noël Coward the heat-conditioned tube - and arriving outside the door ‘fresh everything and after we lost and aspiring’ rather than ‘stale and perspiring.’ My job for the Foundation.’ And as you The only one in the World! Graham I found many of his morning was to make a recording of events at the Memorial may know the Foundation An album containing the six messages in my files. Most of Service for Graham Payn, the results of which can be seen in contributes funds to a 12” Decca recordings of his messages are very brief, this edition. range of theatres and to Pacific 1860. things like: ‘Happy Birthday - I set up an expensive stereo microphone (you can tell acting schools and now to The, now a little battered, we’ve terrible cards in expensive microphones because they have a sponge bit on the the Noël Coward Theatre. cover is signed by both Noël swinging Switzerland!’ or L to R: David Christopher Ragusa, Penelope Keith, So I hope you’ll agree with end and look terribly professional). People arrived, famous Richard Briers, Ruth Leon and Sheridan Morley and Mary Martin. ‘Terribly sorry you’re having a me that this foundation face after famous face. Testing the microphone and recording boring operation but if you feel must surely be Graham’s allowed me to hone in on numerous conversations between any strange sensations just know it’s me thinking of you.’ greatest legacy in terms of keeping the flame alight in honour theatricals that I promise will never be revealed! Michael THE FIRST And there are many more - but we’re in church today! of his dear friend Noël. Haslam struck up on the piano and the tunes that Graham RESIDENTIAL CONFERENCE (laughter). I think most of you know that Graham said at one Finally just one very special occasion stays in my mind. loved or sang held sway until the service began. It really was OF time that he would like his epitaph to be simply ‘Friend of We joined Graham and Dany in Dany’s elegant home in a marvellous occasion, carefully crafted by those who love The Noël Coward Society Noël Coward.’ May I add to that dear Graham the last line of Cannes to celebrate Graham’s 85th birthday, only a couple of and care for Graham and Noël and their work. Tributes and ‘Future Definite – a Celebration of the work of Noël Coward’ a poem Coley once gave me, ‘Go bravely for where so much years ago. Dany had very thoughtfully brought some records performances intertwined to provide, as Simon Grigg said, St. Catherine’s College, Oxford greatness and gentleness have been already. You should be from Les Avants of Graham singing over the years and “snapshots” of Graham’s professional and private life - I was Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd September, 2006 glad to follow.’ Farewell Graham on his 85th so glad to be there - and to now have the luxury of hearing it Graham and Noël and Coley. birthday sitting at this again in the quiet of the Society’s Norwich home. Full details of the conference appeared in the June edition Thank you. table of close friends very The official opening of the Noël Coward Theatre seemed of Home Chat and since that time, we are delighted to The song Come The Wild quietly and very movingly the most natural of climaxes to the day and to all that Graham announce two additional items. On Saturday night STEVE Wild Weather was then sung by began to sing the words had striven for since Noël’s passing. It was a real and warm ROSS will be entertaining us in a second set of cabaret, Simon Green. ‘Jean Louis Dominic welcome from and his staff. The following MICHAEL LAW AND SHERIDAN MORLEY. There followed a tribute by Pierre Bouchon True to hospitality was superb and the work done on the theatre had Also, on Sunday morning BARRY DAY will present a feature Robert Gardiner a trustee of the breed that bore him...’ truly created a West End home for Noël. The most natural of about Coward’s letters, with readings by professional actors The Noël Coward Foundation. and to us this was our games was of course ‘spot the celebrity’. I was delighted to and musical accompaniment by STEVE ROSS. First let me quote Graham most treasured memory of see Tony and Jen Walton who remembered us from the Barbara Longford will be writing to everyone who has in his own words. ‘Once in Graham. Coward events at Christmas in New York and to see so many already paid their 60% deposit for the conference, giving Jamaica Noël, Coley and I There followed a who were or are in Coward productions. Pride of place must additional information. On going to press, we have were messing around the musical interlude when go to Moira Lister, the only remaining member of that rare approximately 60 delegates staying overnight in college and swimming pool at Firefly. I the violinist Michael club ‘Coward’s leading ladies’, who looked wonderful. Those an additional 20 delegates attending for just the Dinner and was feeling very pleased with Keelan played Graham’s present included Cameron Mackintosh, Lord and Lady Cabaret on the Saturday night. life so I performed an favourite piece of Attenborough, Dame Judi Dench with Keith Baxter (who The college have confirmed that they would be able to impromptu song and dance classical music, Violin auditioned for Orson Wells at this theatre when it was the New release one or two more bedrooms for our use, so we are still The congregation at St. Paul’s Church, Covent Garden routine. This gave rise to some Partita No. 3 in E major Theatre and ended up playing Prince Hal in Chimes at able to take a few additional bookings. If anyone else is crack from Noël about my by JS Bach, BWV 1006: Midnight). Alan Rickman and Lindsay Duncan, , interested in attending, then could they please contact Barbara singing so in mock indignation I drew myself up and blustered Gavotte Nichole McAuliffe, Simon Callow, Donald and Marc Sinden, Longford as soon as possible and she will send a booking I’ll have you know that people have paid good money to see Penelope Keith then introduced Coward’s verse, When I Peter Bowles, Dan Stevens, Kim Medcalf, Belinda Lang, Ned form. Barbara can be reached during the day on Tel: 020 me sing and dance. Noël shot back ‘Yes but not very many and Have Fears. Sherrin, Patrica Hodge and June Whitfield. 7937 8692, or by e-mail to [email protected] not for very long.’ (laughter) Last night I was looking through the Noël Coward Diaries At one point quite exhausted and on my fourth glass of ‘Thoroughly pleased with himself he plunged into the pool and I found amongst many others, three references to iced tea (they were brought with exceptional regularity by the Postscript Sheridan Morley’s latest book on Noël Coward and I wanted to say - ‘Well it was mostly your material’ - Graham’s performances in Sigh No More by Sir Noël. On the same young waiter) I sat with Stephen Marshall who knew is now available as part of a compact series entitled Life & (laughter) but I didn’t. Noël had devised his exit line and I just 10th of July 1945 he wrote, ‘Graham is fine with style in Noël Coward and knows more about him than most. We were Times. Published by Haus Publishing and available at £10. had to let him keep it.’ For me that’s pure Graham, generous everything he does.’ And on the 14th November 1946. talking about our Coward collections (many will remember A Tribute to Sir Noël Coward - poems and readings from his totally unselfish in spirit. And yet for many of us here today ‘Graham, is really charming, easy and graceful and unself- from previous rambles that my wife is of course very writings in the Paintings Gallery, Theatre Museum, Covent the real joy of knowing Graham was that just when we used to conscious.’ And on the 23rd January 1947, ‘Graham did his privileged to be living on a daily basis amongst my own Garden - with Elizabeth Sharland. A company of actors will think this man is so warm and so thoughtful and altogether speech at the end very charmingly.’ And so he was in life, collection) and what we might do with them in preparation for look at the life of Noel Coward, through readings and too sweet to be true Graham would come out with a wicked stylish and full of that rare and now sadly diminishing quality our eventual demise. The fall-back position is of course to say performances. Special guests to be announced. Sunday 6 & one-liner as ascerbic as any of Noël’s and one would think ‘charm.’ I am now going to read a poem by Sir Noël which he well they must go to Birmingham but we collectors suffer 13 August, 15.00-16.00 Admission Free Bookings 020 7943 this man is very, very human after all. wrote when Graham was away on holiday, away from him and from the belief that what we have is special and needs to be 4750 E-mail [email protected] For further info: I first met Graham just after several of us had bought the it was only discovered after Sir Noël’s death: kept together and seen by everyone, everywhere. To prove a www.theatremuseum.org/insidetheatreland or rights to make a feature film of Hay Fever. Several years later point here are two of Stephen’s rather special items: www.sharland.com

Page 4 Page 9 ...continued from Page 6 When I have fears, as Keats had fears, came to Graham twice. For the last 30 years of his life he had Miss Conti reports on ‘Little Lad’ Of the moment I’ll cease to be the companionship of Dany Dasto here. Which of course gave him plenty of scope. So he tried to sing I console myself with the vanished years Dany now has two torches to carry. One for Graham and it several times and finally said, ‘You’re right - it isn’t strong Remember laughter, remembered tears one for Noël. It's a big job, Dany, and we are all here to help enough. I’ll write you another song.’ And I thought, ‘Oh yes, And the peace of the changing sea. you carry them. I think you know that. I’ve heard that before.’ It was hard not to love Graham. I knew him for about 25 Anyway sure enough he phoned me up a couple of days When I feel sad, as Keats felt sad years, I only wish it had been longer. He was a modest man, a later and said you’d better come round and I’ll play you your That my life is so nearly done polite man, a gentleman. He would be embarrassed to think new song. Well he only had to play the first few bars and I It gives me comfort to dwell upon he'd put us to all this trouble today. He’d be genuinely knew we had a hit on our hands... Remembered friends who are dead and gone surprised at the warmth of our affection. And pleased. And the jokes we had and the fun. Quite early on I discovered he had the same birthday as Jean Louis Dominic Pierre Bouchon, my late father, True to the breed that bore him, How happy they are I cannot know Answered the call But happy am I who loved them so. “Well, then,” he said, “you'd better call me Dad.” That held in thrall His father's heart before him. Barry Day then added his tribute: Being British I never did but it became sort of true. When I Jean Louis Dominic sailed away ‘But happy am I who loved them so.’ heard that he'd left us, I remembered something from King Further than love could find him Lear and I looked up that passage at the end when Kent says: Yet through the night Noël’s devotion to Graham was total and lasted for nearly He heard a light 30 years. Noël’s diaries and letters bear ample witness to that. “I have a journey, sir, shortly to go And gentle voice behind him say: “I drove Graham to the airport. . . I hated him going, as I My master calls me: I must not say no, always do . . . He arrived back safely, thank God. I am never Matelot, Matelot, really relaxed when he is between the sea and sky. . . He is a And Albany replies: Where you go remarkable character and I love him dearly and forever.” My thoughts go with you, “The weight of this sad time we must obey Matelot,Matelot, But hearts weren't worn on sleeves. That wasn't their way. Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.” When you go down to the sea. Theirs was a loving, teasing relationship. For example, when Noël was considering Jamaica as a possible haven, it was I then sat down and found myself writing a few words of As you gaze from afar Graham who actually found the place to plant the Coward my own. I wish I'd said them to Graham but then, how often On the evening star flag. . . do we really say what we deeply feel until it’s too late? Wherever you may roam, “Little Lad, with a persistence born of his crude tom-tom You will remember the light his annual report from the Italia Conti Stage School, upbringing, went beetling off on his own and found some I'm sad I never got to say Goodbye Through the winter night dated Summer Term 1938, and signed by the grand land.” But then, I never really thought you’d go. That guides you safely home. dame herself has been provided by Barry Day who is It's not that we talked often, you and I, Though you find publishing his book, The Noël Coward Letters hopefully by And once they were ensconced in Blue Harbour... But then I'd think - “I’ll call and say Hello.” Womenkind T September this year. This report on Graham Payn was written “Graham has become a gardening maniac - he pinches To be frail, when he was in his 19th year and is clearly positive: cuttings right and left, shoves them into the ground, croons to My Dad and I were quite like that, you see, One love cannot fail, my son, “Graham is no longer a student - but his work has broadened them and covers them and himself with manure. He is very “How’s things?” “We’re fine. And you?” “Well, keep in Till our days are done, out & become neat & decisive. He has much more colour in busy bashing about and planting things upside down.” touch.” his voice too - I have always believed in Graham - & predict But still, it seemed enough - it was for me, Matelot, Matelot, he will make a success in acting & films.” Italia Conti “The jokes we had and the fun.” When friends are friends, the words don't matter much, Where you go The Italia Academy grew out of the first production of the Wherever they were there was laughter. Never more so My thoughts go with you, play Where the Rainbow Ends. Italia Conti, who was already than when they were painting And that's just what we were until the end Matelot,Matelot, an established actress and had a reputation for her success in And seems to me we were right from the start. When you go down to the sea. working with young people, was asked to take over the job of “Little Lad, as usual, is at work upon a large ruined So - travel safely on your way, Old Friend, training the cast. The play was a triumph and the school was cathedral. he has such a penchant for hysterical Gothic.” You’ll always keep your place here in my heart. Following applause everyone stood for the Blessing. born in basement studios in London’s Great Portland Street in God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord 1911. It has grown into a vast affiliated structure of colleges “Little Lad has done a sort of ‘Rose Red City’, which Liz Robertson followed by singing If Love Were All Jesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep make us perfect in offering training in the theatre arts across the country. looks a bit like Golders Green, The effect is dashing but the accompanied on the piano by Michael Haslam. every good work to do his will The first run of Where The Rainbow Ends was of course architecture is a bit dodgy. I keep on doing lots of people With the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and one of Noël’s earliest professional appearances under the walking about and I'm sick of them.” Life is very rough and tumble. the Holy Spirit be amongst you and remain with you and guiding hand of Charles Hawtrey. Stephen Cole says: For a humble Diseuse, all whom you love and care for this day and always. Amen ‘The fairy tale was so beloved that the public demanded it “Little Lad is painting a large picture of a Priest and an One must betray one's troubles never, be played almost every Christmas for the next 40 years. Acolyte in acid moonlight. He suddenly changed the Priest Whatever occurs, Michael Haslam then brought the service to a close with a During the run, which began on December 21, 1911, Hawtrey into a lady in a red dress, which is better really but perhaps Night after night, selection of Coward songs starting with, Has Anyone Seen encouraged the children in the show to stage special matinees not better enough, She is very tall and the Acolyte is Have to look bright. Our Ship? of their own device. And it was on February 12, 1912 that 12 crouching. It is all a great worry.” Whether you're well or ill year old Noël Coward directed 11 year old Dot Temple’s first People must laugh their fill. (Ed. Our thanks to all who contributed to this transcription play. Noël, a natural leader, relished nothing more than “Little Lad has now done a cherub's head. It had too You mustn’t sleep especially Simon Brocklehurst - the sound engineer who pushing people around and creating life on the stage and yet bulging a forehead to start with and looked like it had a Till dawn comes creeping. provided the equipment and the expertise to allow us to make another of his talents was revealed.’ gumboil but that, after bitter words, has been rectified.” a recording of the service). 27 years later Graham Payn received this report that was Though I never really grumble written some 6 years after his first audition encounter with And so they really did live happily ever after. They were Life’s a jumble indeed Noël Coward. true friends for 30 years. Few of us are so lucky. But luck And in my effort to succeed

Page 8 Page 5 I’ve had to formulate a creed

I believe in doing what I can, In crying when I must, Noël Coward Theatre Opens ... In laughing when I choose. Heigho, if love were all Cameron Mackintosh opens final testament to the Master’s enduring value to the world of theatre entertainment I should be lonely. I believe the more you love a man. here could have been no more fitting finale to a day of The more you give your trust, celebration of Graham Payn and his work in maintaining The more you're bound to lose. the memory of his friend Noël Coward than the Although when shadows fall Trenaming of the Albery as the Noël Coward Theatre. Graham I think if only with Dany Dasto and Alan Brodie have led the efforts of the Somebody splendid really needed me. Coward Estate to establish this physical presence for the Someone affectionate and dear, Master in London’s West End. In a generous opening Cares would be ended if I knew that he celebration Cameron Mackintosh, Lord Attenborough and Wanted to have me near. Dame Judi Dench welcomed a host of directors, producers, But I believe that since my life began actors and theatre lovers to this newly furbished theatre The most I've had is just home for Noël. The sun shone as guests wandered through

A talent to amuse. the foyer past the bust of Noël by Clemence Dane Davidson Alan PHOTO: Heigho. (Winifred Ashton) and the galleries of Coward portraits, If love were all artifacts and photographs celebrating one of the most significant contributions to theatrical life in the twentieth century. The The Reverend Simon Griggs: Follow that... thanks Liz. generosity of Dany Dasto, the Coward Estate and Its snapshots isn’t it? So many different aspects of this Foundation and individual contributors, plus the work of person that one may take away... tap dancing to ‘Nearer My Cameron’s team of archivists led by Rosy Runciman have God To Thee’ is one that is very hard to erase from my brought together a unique collection of Coward images in his memory. Sir Noël wrote of course ‘...a talent to amuse...’ we new West End home. There are original portraits of Coward have just so beautifully heard but isn’t it also true that that we have only previously been seen reproduced in books Graham seemed to have a talent for friendship. What an including two of the most famous; one by Norfolk artist extraordinary thing. After the blessing there will be a retiring Edward Seago and the other by Derek Hill. collection in aid of The Actor’s Charitable Trust If you would In the coming years as theatre goers enjoy the shows that like to make a donation it is a very simple thing. You take out pass across the stage here, they will gather a flavour of why your wallet, you take out your donation and you fold it up and Coward is still such a significant figure in his chosen world. you put it in... (laughter) Shown here are NCS members and theatre stars sharing ...now we have to do the harder thing which is to commend the joy of the occasion! Graham to his heavenly father most merciful God. Let us pray: PHOTO:Alan Davidson Father in heaven we give you thanks for your servant Graham Who’s who? We praise you as we recollect his life and cherish his Far left top: Tony Walton and Lindsay Duncan memory We bless you that in bearing your image he has brought Far left bottom: Lord Attenborough and Ken Starrett light into our lives For we have seen in his friendship, reflections of your Clockwise from bottom left: Dame Judi Dench by torchlight compassion held by Billy Differ In his integrity, demonstrations of your goodness In his fathfulness, glimpses of your eternal love Barbara Longford and Michael Haslam lead the singing in the Grant to each of us, beloved and bereft, the grace to follow theatre foyer his good example Jan Penn, Geoffrey Skinner and Stephen Greenman So that we with him may come to an everlasting kingdom Through Jesus Christ our Lord who died and rose again Moira Lister and Terence Trimmer and opened the gate of glory To whom be praise for all eternity. Amen Lord Attenborough and Cameron Mackintosh

Graham then talked on record about Matelot: Alan Brodie, Cameron Mackintosh, Lord Attenborough and The next time we would meet up was in his first post-war Dame Judi Dench revue Sigh No More which of course he also directed. I had this number with the unfortunate title ‘It Couldn’t Matter And Noël himself - the bust by Clemence Dane (Winifred Less,’ and frankly it couldn’t. It wasn’t one of Noël’s by the Ashton) in the theatre foyer. way. I just couldn’t do anything with it. So I said that to Noël For Alan Davidson photos see: www.alandavidson.net and he said ‘Nonsense, it’s a perfectly good number.’So I said, ‘Alright then let’s see you do it.’Well you’d think I’d just sworn in church, everyone went quiet. But the great thing

Unless indicated otherwise all photos are by Ken Starrett and John Knowles Alan Davidson Alan about Noël was that he would never ask you to do something PHOTO: he couldn’t do himself. Continued on Page 8... Page 6 Page 7