WHAT’S ON? ACROSS THE GLOBE (Professional companies in red amateur in black) America & Canada Blithe Spirit 3 to 5 Mar 2004 Crofton House School, Vancouver, BC JANUARY 20 to 30 Dec 2003 University Players, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario 2003 Mar to Apr 2004 Denver Center, Denver, CO Jul to Aug Atlantic Thr. Co., Wolfville, Nova Scotia Jun to Aug Purple Rose Thr., Chelsea, Mich. Sep to Oct Utah (more information to follow...) Hay Fever 20 Nov to 13 Dec Grand Prairie Live Theatre, Grand Prairie, Alberta 24 Jun to 31 Aug Utah Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City, Utah, USA. “Cocktails and Sept.-Oct Pacific Repertory Thr., Carmel, CA IN THIS ISSUE Come Into the Garden Maud Oct 9, Nov 3, & Dec 8. Food for Thought Productions, National Arts Club, NYC Laughter...” Page 1 - Steve Ross at Pizza- Tel: (212) 362-2560 STEVE ROSS You are invited to a Very Special On-The-Park Design For Living 5 to 13 Feb 2004 Amicus Productions Toronto, Ontario Page 2 Ten Chimneys - The Evening on Fallen Angels 18 to 31 Jan 2004 Bramalea Live Theatre, Brampton, Ontario Sequel st Present Laughter 2 Mar to 1 Nov Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland OR. www.orshakes.org Saturday 31 Page 3 A Magical Day At Ten Private Lives 4 to 21 Febr Tribal Productions Inc. Thornhill, Ontario Chimneys 21 to 30 Aug Weston Playhouse in Weston, Vermont January, 2004. Page 5 Home Movies 20 to 30 Dec University of Windsor, School of Drama and Arts, Windsor, ON Page 6 Mary Ellis - The Sep to Nov Globe Thr., Regina, Saskatchewan., Canada, ; Missing Bits of the Obits. The Noël Coward Society has reserved Page 8 Elaine Stritch in San Jul to Aug Post Playhouse, Chadron, Nebr. the famous cabaret venue Francisco Sep Riverside Thr., Iowa City, Iowa, Pizza-on-the-Park Page 8 NEWS ... Jul to Sep Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA exclusively for Members and their Page 10 Coward Upsets His Jul to Aug The Red Barn Thr., Jackson Point, Ontario guests and distinguished celebrities. Apple Cart Aug to Sep PCPA Theaterfest, Santa Monica, CA Page 12 WHAT’S ON! Aug Weston Playhouse, Weston, Vermont, Come to the Cabaret and listen to the Aug to Sep Lamb's Players Thr., Coronado, CA Words and Music of Noël Jan to Feb, 2004 Lyric Stage, Boston, Mass. Coward sung by one of the finest Aug Capitol Thr., Port Hope, Ontario exponents of his work – Mr Steve Ross. Apr to May, 2004 Irish Classical Thr. Buffalo, NY Australasia Steve Ross was among the distin- Blithe Spirit 28 to 31 Aug Tropic Line TheatreTownsville, Queensland, Australia guished performers at the Noël Cow- 15 Nov to 20 Dec Melbourne Theatre Co Victoria then national tour 2003 (Press Night 19 Nov) ard Centenary Celebration at the The Rest of the World Savoy Theatre on December 12th 1999 Private Lives Current Pieter Toerien Productions, Cape Town, Grahamstown, Jo’burg, South Africa and his artistry as the world’s most Pizza-On-The-Park United Kingdom accomplished exponent of the great Present Laughter 16 to 18 Oct Union Theatre, The Village Hall, Dorridge, Solihull, West Midlands songwriters of the twentieth century is appreciated in regular Fumed Oak 13 &14 Dec Phoenix Players, Village Hall, Abertin, Glamorgan appearances at both Pizza-on-the-Park in London and at New Fallen Angels 15 to 24 Aug Hever lakeside Theatre, Kent York’s Stanhope Park Hyatt. Hay Fever 30 Oct to 6 Nov R.S.A.M.D. The New Athenium Theatre, Glasgow, Scotland 12 to 17 Jan 2004 Nottingham Arts Theatre, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire Steve Ross He mixed it for HRH Queen “Cocktails and Laughter…” Red Peppers/Still Life 16 to 20 Aug Market Harborough Theartre, Leicestershire Steve is not only an accomplished Elizabeth the Queen Mother, promises to be a most glamorous Blithe Spirit 8 to 15 Nov Questors Theatre, The Playhouse Theatre, Ealing, London singer of the repertoire, but also when she visited him in Jamaica. and enjoyable event and one which 6 Jun to 31 Oct Cumbria Theatre Trust, Theatre By The Lake, Keswick, Cumbria accompanies himself on the piano Many of you will no doubt know is unusual in present times, but it 11 to 16 & 18 to 30 Aug Jill Freud & Co, Southwold, Suffolk with skill and panache - a rare its ingredients. will only be possible if sufficient 6 Jun to 31 Oct Cumbria Theatre Trust, Theatre By The Lake, Keswick, Cumbria musical talent indeed and one that There will be a seating plan for members are able to commit them- 18 to 25 Oct Bolton Little Theatre (With member Andrew Close as Charles Condomine) has not been so well displayed since dinner and we shall sit down for selves to attending. Many of you Private Lives 19 Sep to 11 Oct Theatre Royal, York the days of Hutch. As well as the first course at approximately live outside London and would have 18 to 22 May 2004 Quince Players, The Cordes Hall, Sunninghill, Ascot, Berkshire performing a scintillating selection 8.p.m. and then continue with to spend the night in the capital. 5 to 8 Nov Belmont Theatre Company, The Arts Centre, Harrow, Pinner, Middlesex of songs, Steve Ross also laces his the main course. The Society will endeavour to obtain 17 Oct to 8 Nov Theatre Royal, York performance with stories about the The ‘first set’ of the cabaret, good rates at nearby hotels for those Waiting In The Wings 30 Sep to 4 Oct The Old Market, Brighton songs and the circumstances of concentrating on Noël Coward’s who require them. their composition. music, will begin at 9.15 p.m. by The cost of the evening will be £60 MEMBERSHIP ... In keeping with the style that Sir which time we should all be per member and members may Noël himself would have brought to Our membershiup continues to grow, especially in the US where we have more members joining the Society than from any relaxed and the bustle of dinner bring up to seven guests at their such an event, the dress code will be other country. Our thanks to all those who support and promote the Society in the US especially our lead representative will have subsided. table at the same price. This will black tie, although cigarette Ken Starrett who never ventures out without a bundle of membership forms in his jacket pocket! At 10.p.m. the pudding course include the cabaret, the cocktails, holders will not be de rigeur! and coffee will be served and then the three course dinner, coffee and The evening will begin at 7.30 p.m. All information for WHAT’S ON? and any correspondence for Home Chat should be sent to: the second part of the show, half a bottle of good house wine, per with cocktails and we shall all be The Noël Coward Society, 29, Waldemar Avenue, Hellesdon, Norwich, NR6 6TB which will include music by other person. Please don’t be put off, if tasting Noël Coward’s favourite Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)1603 486 188 Fax: +44 (0)1603 400 683 songwriters of the era, will begin you are attending on your own. cocktail. at 10.45 p.m. approximately. We guarantee to seat solo members Page 12 next to especially friendly faces, simply have to call the whole NO LATER THAN 15th Septem- hence the table plan. thing off (!!) which would be a ber, 2003 to:- There is absolutely no need to send pity……… Mrs Barbara Longford, a cheque at this early stage, but Pizza-on-the-Park is situated next 7 Argyll Mansions, your confirmation of attendance is to the Lanesbrough Hotel at Hyde London W14 8QG required as soon as possible. If Park Corner. Tel: 020 7603 7399: home there is insufficient interest from Would interested members please Tel: 020 7937 8692: office members (and we do need 80 be kind enough to complete the e-mail: people to attend) then we shall enclosed slip and return it [email protected] NOT YET - NOT YET THE DODO It is with real regret that despite the best themselves to this date. We hope to show for us and the Jermyn Street efforts of the Society and Barbara offer this wonderful show again later at Theatre all of whom were very support- Longford our organiser, we have had to a time and date to suit members. Our ive of this venture. postpone the planned performance of thanks to all those who purchased Noel Coward’s classic verse and music tickets for this event and to Barbara Our next event will be the AGM on piece planned for Saturday August Longford who organised it so well. Saturday 13th December which will 30th, 2003. Our feeling is that the date We particularly wish to thank Tim include lunch at a prestigious London Left: Noel Coward appeared in the key role of King Magnus in the London revival was just a little too near the Summer and Heath , performers Sheila Reid and venue and the annual flower-laying of Shaw's The Apple Cart for a three-month period beginning last May 7 many had difficulty in committing Miles Richardson and accompanist ceremony at the Theatre Royal, Drury Michael Haslam who were preparing the Lane to mark Sir Noel Coward’s birth. Above: Alexis France was featured as the Queen in this production of the work, which had an original run of 258 performances beginning in September, 1929. Margaret Leighton, another of England's leading stage personalities, appeared as Orinthia in the 1953 revival. TEN CHIMNEYS - THE SEQUEL Below: The action in these scenes from Act II is reminiscent of Coward's own In our report on the opening of Ten Chimneys was due to three main Private Lives. The third character in the scene at right is Sempronius, played by Chimneys at Genessee Depot near influences: the theatricality that John Humphreys. Milwaukee we failed to provide photo- invaded every aspect of the Lunts graphs of Noel Coward’s bedroom. Ken lives; Alfred’s Scandinavian ancestry to play, as well as very enjoyable. It really is about the best company I have Starrett has returned to the Lunts and heritage and the work of the scenic appeared with and the production the most lavish and tasteful I can recall country retreat to take a few more and costume designer Claggett Wilson being associated with. Michael MacOwan's direction of the company was photographs. Shown here are three who stayed on the estate from 1938-40 most expert and efficient, and Loudon Sainthill's costumes and scenery are views of the bedroom showing the bed to complete the hand-painted decora- superb. I shall be indeed sorry if my decision not to do the play in New York covered with its fitted pom-pom tion of most of the estate. In the means that Broadway will miss seeing Loudon's lovely designs. bedspread, a fabric featured again on Coward bedroom can be seen Alfred’s Playing almost any play in the Haymarket Theatre is a joy; this production the armchair and footstool. Ken asked passion for ornate floral design. In was designed and directed for that theatre, and a more splendid combination I about the arrangement of the artefacts parts of the house he painstakingly cut cannot imagine. If Shaw had written the play for the theatre -and for corona- in the room and the curator said that out pieces from wallpaper and placed tion year-he could not have done better. wherever possible things are as they them together in large floral collages to I am pleased to say that the production has been most successful and that we were - otherwise it was the curator’s suit the space and decoration in the played to capacity from the time we opened. It is not unlikely that the run of choice based on what was found in the rooms. In the Noel Coward Bedroom is this revival will exceed that of the original production, which played 258 room. On the table is a photograph of an example of a raised fire grate that is performances at the Queen's Theatre -a very healthy run at that time. the three stars in Design For Living. very Scandinavian in style. I am not at all certain that in the future when I write myself a part I shall not The authenticity of the Ten Chimneys write myself a king: it really is so satisfactory having all the other characters experience lies largely in the fact that all standing up so often. of the artefacts, publications, pictures and photographs shown in the build- ings on the estate are the originals - The Master’s repose in the Noel kept by Alfred’s brother-in-law George Coward Bedroom Bugbee and carefully restored and ar- ranged by the curator to ensure that visitors receive a photographs by ANGUS MC BEAN genuine look back at the life and times of this most celebrated Left Appearing in this scene, from the left are: theatrical couple. The John Moffatt (Nicobar), Peter Bayliss, George ornate design of all Rose, Betty Warren, Coward, Laurence Naismith the rooms at Ten (Proteus), Margaret Rawlings, Archibald Batty and Hugh Manning. The Noel Coward Bedroom Page 2 Page 11 Recalling with clarity a magical day at Ten Chimneys UPSETS HIS APPLE CART... The Recollections of James Auer - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tuesday, May 13, 2003 COWARD The British-accented voice at the other ness enhanced by the verdant southern mingled and verbally sparred with the end of the line was kindly but Wisconsin landscape. A couple of brash tartest tongues in the land. It showed. But he helped make a hit of a Shaw revival firm."The gate," it said with just a interlopers from Appleton had come to Furthermore, despite their obvious -the actor-playwright's own story of his first role touch of throaty theatrical hauteur, visit, and write about, the most famous sophistication, they were astonishingly in a non-Coward play in twenty-five years "will be open between 2 and 2:15." acting couple in the history of the trans- frank in their statements. The voice, familiar to playgoers Atlantic stage. Of rival English actress Edith Evans BY NOEL COWARD throughout the English-speaking world, The Lunts, for all their elegance and (Lynn speaking): "I think she was This piece is porvided from Ken Starrett’s collection of theatre magazines and articles belonged to Lynn Fontanne. eminence, couldn't have been more open jealous of my good marriage." and although not particularly revealing is an interesting piece written by the Master She and her husband, Alfred Lunt, or generous. Of Noel Coward (Alfred speaking): "We himself. Ken writes ... sadly Coward and Leighton did not get to do the play in New York. would be expecting us sometime during thought he was writing a play for us, It was done two seasons later by Maurice Evans and the Swedish film star, Signe Hasso. the prescribed 15-minute interval. After Grand tour and instead he was writing three for that, we surmised, the gate would be We tramped the property, looking in at himself." closed. Permanently. At least to us... The Cottage, which was being prepared Of interior designer Syrie Maugham I decided to appear in the current revival of The Apple Cart at the My wife, Marilyn, and I arrived in for occupancy by Lunt's brother-in-law, (Lynn speaking): "We went to Syrie Haymarket Theatre in London because King Magnus is a very fine Genesee Depot shortly before 1:30 p.m. George Bugbee, a Chicago hospital Maugham (to buy a sheepskin rug), but part in a very penetrating play. Bernard Shaw had a brilliant mind, on the prescribed day. We parked our administrator who would be living at she was far too expensive. So Alfred and in The Apple Cart he deals with his subject-the relationship dusty green Rambler Classic at a Ten Chimneys during his retirement, and went out and bought the skins, and we between a constitutional monarch and his cabinet-as no one else nearby restaurant and went inside to The Studio, an 18th-century log struc- sewed them together ourselves." has done before. quell our jitters with a cup of coffee. ture bought in Sweden and reassembled Of playwright (George) Bernard Shaw Hugh Beaumont, Managing Director of H. M. Tennent, made the Promptly at 1:55, we paid the on the estate. (Lynn speaking): "He let us wait for a suggestion that a first-class revival of this play was due and that it check, dashed to the car and headed We ogled the swimming pool, which few minutes, then entered the room would be all the more appropriate in coronation year. When, upon carefully west along Depot Road happened to be devoid of water, and with his beard blowing in the wind." his suggestion, I reread the play, I saw at once that at this time the toward Ten Chimneys. visited the arboretum, where Alfred Of the fleeting nature of fame and play was more topical than any new play could be and all the more Yes, the gate was open, and yes, the raised his plants. popularity (Lynn speaking): "Do you exciting because, through the years, it had matured. So many of the Lunts were expecting us. It was 2:08 Back at the big house, Miss Fontanne think we still have a public?" things which Shaw wrote about twenty-five years ago as happen- p.m. We had made the first cut for showed us the sewing machine with (My response - quick and truthful - was ings in the future are now realities. actors. We were on time. which she created many of her own to assure her that, indeed, they did. Some of Shaw's later plays are not so much plays as discussions, Alfred Lunt, resplendent in a garments (the Singer was best, she Simply announcing that the Lunts and The Apple Cart is really the last play he wrote which is in every houndstooth suit Cecil Beaton had confided to Marilyn; she had once tried would be reading aloud from the sense a play. As he grew older, Shaw no doubt felt that his ideas designed for him for use in Noel a foreign make, and it didn't stand up to telephone book would be enough to fill were more interesting than any play could be and refused to Coward's comedy of Edwardian man- the rigors of the road). a theater, in New York City or anywhere obscure them with too much plot. ners, "Quadrille," greeted us at the door For his part, Alfred proudly showed off else, for a fortnight.) His original purpose in writing The Apple Cart no doubt was a wish and escorted us up the winding the colorfully decorated plates that to express himself at length upon the theme of constitutional staircase, first to the fabled flirting adorned the dining room wall. Tea and sympathy monarchy, and it is through Magnus that he gives his views. room, then to the drawing room. "You could never afford to buy those Promptly at 4 p.m., we had tea in the Magnus' relationship with his ministers is the main business of the today," he said, a trifle wistfully. drawing room. play, and a wonderful job Shaw makes of this. The house that soared One of the Lunts' secrets, we soon "Milk and sugar?" asked Miss Fon- But before the play is over he has also shown us the complete I had never seen such a house: a discovered, was simply to assume that tanne, pouring simultaneously from Magnus, and, perhaps against his original intention, he has masterpiece of harmony, yet jammed we knew all the people they were talking two silver pitchers, one filled with milk, introduced into the play not only Magnus' Queen but also his with objects of every sort, from Swed- about - as, indeed, we did. the other with hot English tea. The daughter. The Queen comes in only in the third act, and the Prin- ish stoves and antique prints to ceramic "Noel" was Noel Coward. Eisie was cookies and cakes that accompanied cess has only a few lines, but with those few lines and the Queen's figures and personal photographs. Alfred Eisenstadt, the famous Life the beverage were exquisite. late appearance the shrewd playwright in Shaw establishes Magnus If this was the way theatrical personali- magazine photographer who had When it came time to put my camera as a parent, a husband and a responsible, loving and lovable family ties lived, I inquired of myself, why memorably chronicled the Lunts' way of and flash unit back into my gadget bag, man. hadn't everybody embraced the acting life many years before. Kit was I had trouble getting everything into Magnus is not an easy part to play: there is a twelve minute speech profession? Katharine Cornell, who, with Lynn the limited space. Miss Fontanne in the first act that is quite frightening, but after that things look up We had had only a few moments to take Fontanne and Helen Hayes, made up the quickly took over. a bit. in the high-spirited biblical murals - dominant troika of female stars on the "Let me do that!" I should, of course, have liked to go on playing The Apple Cart for executed by Theater Guild designer American stage for many years. "I'm not an expert at packing," I as long as there are audiences for it, but I am a man of many Claggett Wilson - that surrounded us But it was the Lunts' wit and vocal conceded. occupations, and I have made a rule to stay in a play only for three when Miss Fontanne arrived in a twirl prowess that most impressed me. They "Well, I am," she shot back, deftly months. of yellow, looking all of 36 (she was spoke, frequently in overlapping organizing the camera equipment in I should especially like to do the play on Broadway, but in addition then approaching 80) and full of verve, sentences, as if they had just emerged such a way that everything was in to The Apple Cart, I have been playing in London at the Cafe de charm and exuberant welcome. from the pages of a freshly minted place, with room remaining for more. Paris in Cabaret, and now that I am considering appearing in The afternoon was off to a promising Coward or Rattigan script. Her touring days may have been over, Cabaret in New York, I really think I should be taking on too much if start. Somehow, we were at ease. but her packing skills remained as fresh I were to do a play as well. The year, distant now but startlingly and useful as ever. When I left the play in August, it was with the greatest regret Sharing small secrets Noel Coward in costume for The Apple Cart fresh in both our memories, was 1966. It As we drove off, Alfred stood waving because I left a company of actors with whom it has been an honor Their glamour was not simply physical - was a warm day in late July, its fresh- or even fiscal - but cerebral. They had goodbye - just a touch poignantly, I Page 10 Page 3 thought - from the inner courtyard. Coward play the piano. was the night the Queen came to the was so sweet. He really was concerned. After that we communicated sporadi- Ten Chimneys cook I noticed an interesting thing about theatre. On our way up to the box to I said, ‘Noël, we all make mistakes. So, I cally. I mailed the Lunts clippings of the recalls her tenure Noël when he would do that after meet the Queen, he [Noël] was so got drunk. I’m better now, and published story, and they in turn sent dinner at night. He never played his nervous that I wouldn’t do it right. everything’s okay, and I’m here and in By Donna Frake Staff Writer us lovely notes. own music. He played Rodgers and Noël looked at me and said, ‘You know, one piece and ready to do the matinee.’ Oconomowoc Focus - January 2003 Much later Miss Fontanne, a widow Hart, he played Rodgers and Stritchie, you have to curtsey.’ I said, All right all right [he said.] now, entertained me with characteristic The spotlight holds no lure for Stella visited, he arrived, Heintz recalled, in a Hammerstein, he played Schwartz and ‘Noël, I went to Sacred Heart Convent And he warned me, ‘You must get aplomb and asked that I send her prints Heintz, who for five years toiled in the limousine, wearing a long white night- Dietz, he played Otto Harbach, he for twelve years. That’s ALL I did!’ married and it would be good for you to of all the photographs I had taken of her kitchen of a celebrity couple. shirt. played anything, but not his own stuff. Anyway, he gave this party. And all the be married,’ and he went on and on and and her late husband. I complied. Heintz, 92, now resides at Lutheran "He was supposed to come with three Interesting. I think that was the one kids, me included, were up on the top on. He got a little teary. Then he kissed Homes of Oconomowoc's Shorehaven people, and he showed up with nine," place he behaved like a civilian, in his deck turning Noël Coward songs into me goodbye, and he walked up those A final chapter Tower, an assisted-living facility, where she recalled. That left the burden on own home. rock and roll, or whatever we were long steps that go up to the stage door My final meeting with Miss Fontanne she reminisced recently about her Heintz to stretch the meal to accommo- doing, I don’t know, whatever the at the Savoy Theatre. took place, unexpectedly, shortly before years working at Ten Chimneys, the date the unexpected guests. Noël really cared about me. He cared swing thing was at that time, and we Anyway, he gets to the top of the stairs her death in 1983, at 95. town of Genesee home of world- In her post, Heintz was responsible for about my health. Noël was worried were drinking champagne and then I and all this wonderful meeting and so It was lunch hour. I had deposited my renowned actors Lynn Fontanne and preparing all three meals, including a tea about my drinking. I drank a lot. I got this dopey idea of throwing the emotional, and kissy kissy and paycheck at the old First Wisconsin Alfred Lunt. time each day. remember once I went on the wagon, champagne overboard when we everything was terrific, and as a matter Bank at Water and Mason streets. As I Ten Chimneys is scheduled to open in "It was a long day," she said. temporarily, for my health. I wrote him a finished the toast. We were all trying to of fact, I was standing there thinking, was walking out, I noticed a tiny, frail May 2003 as a tourist attraction, retreat At one point during her tenure with the letter in Switzerland and said I’ve pretend we were Vivien Leigh or ‘This could not be the last line of this wisp of a woman, wearing a plain cloth and workshop center. couple, Heintz spent six weeks stopped drinking. He wrote me back a somebody. One funny line he said I got scene. There’s got to be something coat, perched on a round stone table Employed as a live-in cook for the with them at their house in New York. letter and the gist of it was, you know, absolutely crocked at this party and he coming, because I don’t think he’d go immediately inside the entrance to the couple during the 1960s, Heintz In that residence, the kitchen was down it’s wonderful, wonderful, you’re so said to me that I was the only actress out on that note.’ See? lobby. prepared meals for some of the fabled a long flight of stairs from the dining talented and you have so much to give, he ever saw fall UP a gangplank. And he gets to the top of the stairs and As I walked past, her glance caught stars of stage and screen. room. So after cooking the meal, she had and that [drinking] would get in your He came to my dressing room the next he turns around and he says, ‘Oh, and mine. The eyes were what held me - In the years that she worked for them, to carry it up the stairs to serve it. way and dahdeedah, but, you know, it day. I didn’t usually drink that much incidentally, Stritchie, throwing bright and piercing as a sparrow's, and Heintz had the opportunity to meet Heintz said the work was demanding, takes one to know one. but I did drink that much that day, champagne glasses into the Thames as intensely alive, set like two dark many celebrities of the day. From the and her employers always chose the And then at the end, of the letter he because it was such a relief. And the went out in ’29.’ jewels in that weathered, ancient visage. likes of legends such as Helen Hayes, menu. Their preference was foods made said, ‘Oh, and Stritchie, think how Queen had seen it and gone. It was all Well, my dear, [laughing] the one thing It was Lynn Fontanne. She had most Merle Oberon and Lillian Gish, to the with creams and sauces "They liked pleased your friends will be!’ I always pressure, you know. He came to my I never wanted to be in life, was boring. likely been visiting the dentist who antics of Paul Lynde and Carol very rich foods," she said. thought that I had to drink to be dressing room early the next day. It was And I’m telling you he really let me maintained offices upstairs in the Channing, Heintz got a peek into their One memory Heintz recalls is the talent popular, you know. It was all fun for me. a matinee day. All producers throw have it. It pushed my buttons. And of building. everyday lives. Fontanne had for arranging flowers. parties the night before a matinee. I’m course what I did was burst out I stepped out through the revolving "Helen Hayes was a very nice woman, "She made such beautiful bouquets," [And] while we’re on the subject of certain they are sadistic. He’d asked me laughing. door, then impulsively turned to go a religious woman. She'd come out in she said. booze, we had a party one night on a to come in early. Then, after we closed in London, I back in. As I did, the two companions of the kitchen and talk a bit," Heintz Despite the glimpse into the spotlight, boat that went around the Thames. It He wanted to talk to me. He talked to remained a great friend of Noël’s and he the actress appeared. Each took an arm. remembered. Heintz says she was happy to resign, me for about an hour an a half, and it of mine. Alan Farley Gently they helped her out of the bank The former cook also recalled accompa- despite acknowledging that the experi- and into a waiting car. nying the caretaker to pick up actress ence taught her a lot. NEWS ... NEWS ... NEWS ... NEWS ... NEWS ... NEWS ... NEWS Carol Channing, who was coming for a She found that people who make their With more chutzpah than caution I From Elizabeth Sharland: launch of Elizabeth Sharland’s latest appeared, followed by a smiling police approached the car - a modest, midsize visit. living in a fantasy world are sometimes "She had so many boxes and trunks, I out of touch with real life. ”Jamaican Interlude” a new play by novel “The Best Actress” which will be captain. sedan - and leaned in a bit. Elizabeth Sharland will be presented published in August 2003. He introduced the couple who had I asked: "Are you who I think you are?" could hardly get in," Heintz laughed. "They're people who don't know what "She brought her own zucchini; I life is about. They're always the boss, at the Algonquin Hotel on September found our possession, then a line of The eyes sparkled. The creased, 29th at 8:00 pm. The play concerns A lovely story from member Wilson policemen performed a small dance for wrinkled face broke into a smile. After a cooked it, and she ate it all." always on a pedestal, always having When actor-comedian Paul Lynde people wait on them," she said. a group of people gathered in a hotel in Mobley - gleaned from Readers Digest us, before saluting farewell. moment the lips parted. Port Maria, Jamaica, enroute to a which he sent us when informing of a -Munro Cunningham, Generates, Fife "I thought you were trying to pick me visit at Noel Coward’s home, Firefly. change of email address - we couldn’t I love it when stories reinforce our faith up!" said the still-resonant voice, as Must Close Saturday Records ... Admission is $10.00. For reservations, leave it out! in mankind; don’t you? warm and witty and infused with irony ... is the only record company in the world devoted to the delights of British call 212/757-1799 Dutch Courage Regards, Wilson as I had remembered it from our first musical theatre, has made rapid strides since it was started eight months ago. One At the Theatre Museum, Covent My wife and I lost our camcorder on visit. "I was quite flattered!" of its recordings, The Amazons, has now been nominated in the US for a Grammy Garden on Sunday, 10 August at 14:30 holiday in Amsterdam. A half hour BBC Radio 2 programme The door closed, and the car drove Aweard (the highest accolade for recorded music). We also hear rumours that there pm. — Tickets £5 - £4 concessions. It was found by a local couple who, on Sir Noel Coward with Michael slowly off. is some Coward material finding its way into the catalogue! The brochures for the This program organised by Elizabeth, incredibly, took the trouble to trace us Fierstein is due to be transmitted I was not privileged to see Lynn last batch of recordings from Must Close Saturday were sent out in last month’s presents an anthology of verse, prose by looking at the retailer’s label and transmitted at some time in the Fontanne again. Home Chat, but without the appropriate order forms. The company apologises to and anecdotes about the lives and serial number inside the machine. Autumn. our readers for this oversight. The good news is that those who wish to order any works of British actresses from Nell They phoned our house while we were E-mail James Auer at of their discs but do not have access to the company’s website (at www.must- Gwynn to Ellen Terry, from Vivien still away, and my son told them where We have just learnt of the sad death [email protected] close-saturday-records.co.uk) may send their credit card details to the company Leigh to Wendy Hiller. Speakers will we were staying. of Joseph Garton, the man who will then process their orders for them. include John Miller, biographer of The police returned the camcorder to us responsible for the purchase and Must Close Saturday Records are at: 56 The Street, Poringland , Norwich , Norfolk Dame Judi Dench and guest actresses and we thought nothing more of the preservation of Ten Chimneys. A (Our thanks to the Ten Chimneys NR14 7JT , UK who will talk about their careers and incident until we played back our person of huge civic commitment he Foundation for providing copy from Telephone +44 (0)1508 494371 the choices they have made. The holiday tapes. was able to see his dream come true local journals) Fax +44 (0)1508 494434 program will also include the book In one of them, an unfamiliar room in May this year.

Page 4 Page 9 experience. I was so scared and nervous, and yet with this facade of NOEL COWARD’S HOME MOVIES Elaine Stritch in San Francisco being so totally relaxed and by Alan Farley sophisticated - well, I did that in New The collection of home movies taken by Noel York, so I did it in San Francisco too. Coward and his friends have been collated and Basic black and a single strand of placed on video. A copy that was given to pearls and they think you own the Michael Imison has been kindly donated by him city. to us and will be used at a future event to So, up I went, and I got out of the develop our understanding of Noel’s time at elevator and walked in to the Top of Goldenhurst and his travels abroad. the Mark . The fog was all coming in, The video contains some 89 clips of varying that beautiful view up there, and there quality. Amongst the most interesting items are he was. Well, we had the most clips taken with friends at Goldenhurst, a short wonderful weekend, and every place frontal shot of Noel’s mother, Violet Coward we went we told everybody we’d just and a sequence in the garden at Goldenhurst gotten married, so we got everything with his father, Arthur Coward, mowing the free. I don’t think anything - lawn. anything cost us a dime. We just There is an interesting sequence when Noel is celebrated all over San Francisco. So visiting his brother at his tea plantation in that was my first, my virgin birth in Ceylon. It is entitled: The five miles of track San Francisco. hardly wide enough for an Austin 7 leading to Eric’s bungalow. AF: Well that’s a story that didn’t There are clips of Noel with Jack Wilson and Cole Porter (?), Noel Coward and friends at Goldenhurst make it into the show [Elaine Stritch friends and travelogues from Egypt, Siam, (Can you name the friends? Is that Chevalier 2nd from right?)) at Liberty]. China, Hong Kong and New York. There are numerous shots that show Noel’s interest in the ES: No, no - oh, there are so many Royal Navy with views of harbours, battleships stories that didn’t make it into the and a trip on HMS Suffolk. There are beach show, because otherwise it would parties, a water skiing sequence, journeys by have become a Eugene O’Neill play. liner and boatplane, glimpses of Cole Porter, Raymond Massey, Jeffrey Holmesdale and In an interview we did earlier, she numerous attractive woman of the stage and talked of her work with Noël screen. One sequence shows what looks to be Coward; I mentioned that he had first Noel on an elephant washing itself in a river. seen her in ‘Goldilocks:’ Water features a lot in many clips - one show- Elaine Stritch finally brought her Tony-winning one-woman show, ‘Elaine Stritch ing Noel and a companion showering under an at Liberty’ to San Francisco in July for a two week run, which was as ES: He came, he saw that. [One] thing enormous water flow that appears to be filling enthusiastically received as it has been in New York and London. Just before the I think what made him come was up a tiled pool in the Far East. A fishing se- opening we had a chat about the show, and she told me of her first visit to San Leonard Bernstein. He saw me do a quence showing Noel and friends catching Francisco: benefit at Carnegie Hall, I think it was. Barracuda off the back of a boat. Two Coward Elaine Stritch: I was taking a walk the other day and I passed the St. Francis Hotel, And I sang two [of his] songs from A clips show the ‘English’ abroad waliking with a and Nieman Marcus and all those places, and I suddenly was reminded of an Wonderful Town. And he called Noël typical ‘why don’t these foreigners speak the experience that I had in 1947 or ’46 - something like that; a long time ago. I had just and said he had seen a performer that language’ gait and a depiction of the Eight gotten to New York, and I got a little part in a play called Made in Heaven and I fell Ages of Man from baby boy to ancient man. he thought Noël would like. And Leslie Howard, Noel Coward and more for you to name! in love with the stage manager, whose nickname was Dink Thompson - I think his Many of the personalities filmed in these that’s what made Noël come to (Is that Jeffrey Holmesdale on the right?) name was Derek. (Goldilocks). personal moments on Noel’s life have yet to be Anyway, he went overseas, he was drafted, and we weren’t madly in love, but we Goldilocks ran about six months, but identified by us but they would clearly make a very interesting contribution to any future event for members in the UK and the dated, and you know we didn’t do any kind of naughty staying over night - no, no, I not very happily. And then I did Sail US - so watch this space! was fresh out of the convent, and I didn’t have anything to do with that. So we just Away with Noël and it took two years had a lot of fun, a lot of laughs. But we loved each other, we just flipped over each of my life, what with the American other. He was very attractive. So when he went overseas, he said, ‘Elaine, I’ll make rehearsal, playing, and the London a deal with you. I’m not a good letter writer, but a year from tonight, I’ll meet you at rehearsal. Visiting him in Switzerland. the bar at the Top of the Mark.’ I said ‘It’s a deal.’ You know, it’s interesting in life, Alan, I put it in my book, which I keep religiously, an appointment book, and two, three it kind of goes back to ‘youth is a days before [the date], I got myself organized, packed a bag, got on the train, which wonderful thing, too bad it has to be in those days was super deluxe. It was the most adventurous thing; I felt like - oh, I wasted on the young’ it’s the same felt like Bette Davis in a movie. I had never spoken to him or written; we made a pact principle. You just look back on your that that was the way it was going to be. I got off the train and I took a cab to the life and say, ‘Jesus, did I really St. Francis and I checked in, and then I went to Nieman Marcus because I wanted to appreciate where the hell I was?’ Did buy a black picture hat to go with the suit that I had and I was going to look nine I appreciate the fact that I was sitting million bucks, no matter what happened. in a hot pink dining room or a living I had my makeup done, my hair done, and at 5:30 I got a cab to the Mark Hopkins room in the mountains, at Les Avants, and walked in and got into the elevator - and I can’t tell you - it was an out-of-body in Switzerland, listening to Noël Tallulah Bankhead with a dog and even more to name! Noel Coward and is that Gertie as well? Page 8 Page 5 even the fact that the score was not from Noel himself nobody knew it eight weeks”. finished. The solution was simple: the better than I, and knew with total But at the start of May, after major MARY ELLIS - THE MISSING BIT OF THE OBITS day before he left he called Norman, conviction how he wished it to be rewriting (turning it into three acts Dominic Vlasto reveals the true story of what happened to ‘After The Ball’. and summoned him to come out to sung. Miss Ellis could not sing it, and instead of the original two), cutting Mary Ellis’s obituary in the New York Times, reprinted in a previous issue of Jamaica after Christmas for a couple of Robert Helpman knew; and the much of Mrs Erlynne’s best music, Home Chat, made no mention whatsoever of her appearance in Noel Cow- weeks to wrap the whole project up. management declined to interfere; and reconstruction of the ballroom scene ard’s After The Ball of 1954; and her obituary that appeared in The Daily The last songs for After The Ball were Mr. Coward was on the other side of with a lot more comedy for Irene Telegraph was barely more informative, referring only to the fact that “...in duly transcribed in Jamaica. “Last the world; and I was slowly going up Browne as the Duchess of Berwick, the early 1950’s, Mary Ellis’s stage appearances became less frequent. Her night”, Coward diarized on 17 January, the wall.” complete re-orchestration and a new friendship with Coward survived a misjudged adaptation of Lady Winder- “just before dinner, I finished the last Bobbie Helpman later confessed to musical director, Coward was still mere’s Fan ...” note and the last word of After The Coward that he had been “utterly “terribly disappointed about After The Mary Ellis had made her name as a leading singer in musicals, with hugely Ball ... the relief is immense, particu- dumbfounded by the horror of the first Ball. The whole project has been influential roles in works by Oscar Hammerstein, Jerome Kern and most larly as I know that it is very good orchestra rehearsal”, so much so sabotaged by Mary not being able to notably Ivor Novello (among others) throughout the 1920’s and 30’s, and she indeed. I have been very much en indeed that he apparently wanted (so sing it. Unfortunately she is a strong also maintained a reputation as a “straight” - and very alluring - actress. She veine and have turned out some of the he said later) to open the tour with personality and plays it well, otherwise did play a Coward play - Point Valaine - in 1947, but never a Coward musical, best lyrics I have ever written”. only a piano for accompaniment. For I would of course have had her out of until the faux-pas of After The Ball in 1954 - this twenty or so years later than Norman flew back to London on Norman, the process of watching and the cast weeks ago.” the leading musical roles for which she had become famous. January 20th clutching the precious listening to Coward’s gloriously It was certainly a very unhappy But exactly whose faux-pas was it? It is well-known that Coward was pretty manuscripts, and at once started melodic and lushly-harmonized score moment in Norman’s career, and one vituperative about the musical side of the original production when he first putting the score into rehearsal, while being progressively shorn of its charm about which he never felt comfortable saw it on tour: “The orchestra was appalling, the orchestrations beneath Coward, “supremely confident”, was got worse and worse throughout four about revisiting: “If he [Coward] had contempt ... the whole score will have to be reorchestrated from overture to remaining in Jamaica until the end of weeks’ rehearsal in London and the struck me across the face and told me I finale and Norman [Hackforth, the original MD] will have to be fired.” (Dia- March. subsequent twelve-week tour which was no bloody good it would have ries, 1 April 1954). However, what is often missed in this particular Coward been less painful!”, he wrote, hyperbolic diatribe is the fact that he starts it by being vituperative about the “and in the final issue, I shall “absence of style in the direction”, for example: “It was restless and untidy Mary Ellis in 1935 never believe that it [all the and ... a great deal of the performance was inaudible”. He is also pretty reorganization] made any soned composer and MD of musical unpleasant about Mary Ellis difference ... at the end of it revue and had just spent much of 1951 herself. all, it was still a bad show.“ and 1952 as conductor of the highly It seems, so far, to have been the Hackie stayed with the successful Lyric Revue. (In addition, judgement of critics and com- reorganized show for the rest Norman had also been the “fixer” mentators that the failure of After of its tour and gratefully behind Coward’s engagement to The Ball was due principally to retired from the fray before perform cabaret at the Café de Paris Coward’s mis-judged adaptation. its London opening in June, and had during 1953 been musical Coward himself acknowledged - whereupon it received some editor of The Noel Coward Song but only after the show’s pretty stinking reviews and Book.) It was to Norman that Coward disastrous opening and subse- managed to plod through till turned during the autumn of 1953 to quent entire reorganization - that the autumn when it closed. It write down the musical score of After elements of the piece were not is difficult to believe that The Ball from his dictation at the completely satisfactory. “The Coward ever really held piano, a process which both of them more Coward we can get into the Norman responsible for what remembered with pleasure: “The music script and the more Wilde we can had happened, as he was is pouring out and I can scarcely go to eliminate, the happier we shall all unhesitatingly brought back the piano without a melody creeping be...”, he noted on 21 April 1954, as accompanist for the fourth from my fingers, usually in keys that I and then, on 13 June: “I feel in season of Café de Paris am not used to and can’t play in,’ my heart that the fact that almost Cole Lesley, Norman Hackforth and Noel Coward at Blue Harbour in January 1954 cabaret performances the commented Coward (Diaries, 23 same autumn and for all of Coward’s a third of the score has had to be “I had met Mary Ellis”, recalled Nor- opened in Liverpool on March 1st. October 1953), while Norman recalled subsequent London cabaret appear- cut will mitigate against its man, “for a preliminary run-through of Norman could see that “it was no good, that “it became more and more absorb- ances till 1958. success ... it is now, subtly, a bit the songs in mid-December, and I had and, as the weeks went by, it didn’t ing as we went along, and he seemed Hackie ends his chapter of autobiogra- lopsided”. This I think was a been a little uneasy from the start at the really get any better”. Norman Hackforth in 1950 to be writing some lovely music”. phy about this period: “A year later, huge understatement, and I way she had reacted to the music. As Noel got back from Jamaica at the end During November and December that Noel Coward wrote a song called ‘Why believe that the principal damage to the show had already been done before the soon as I got back to London I started of March, and saw the show for the year, Norman worked on the score with Must the Show Go On?’ I have often reorganization, and no amount of cuts and rewriting was going to be enough to to work with her in advance of the date first time during the sixth week of the Coward during the weeks in London wondered.” save the day. of general rehearsals. Slowly, my worst tour in Manchester. He was not compli- and also over several weekends at Dominic Vlasto For the rest of the story - how the production came to be in this situation in the fears were realized. Miss Ellis could not mentary: “There are ... moments of Goldenhurst, while casting the show Dominic is always pleased to answer first place - we must turn away from Coward, who was ensconced in Jamaica during sing the part. Some of the songs were imagination and charm, but not enough, was in progress. Coward had decided queries on Noel Coward and his January-March 1954, to the only other known commentary of the production in exacting and difficult, but I knew not nearly enough ...Vanessa [Lee] sang against directing the show himself and music. He is co-author of the Noel preparation - that reported briefly by Norman Hackforth in his little-known 1975 without a shadow of doubt that her divinely but acted poorly ... Mary Ellis had engaged Robert Helpman to direct. Coward Music Index that will be autobiography, And The Next Object. voice was totally unsuited. I had acted well but sang so badly that I Casting had only just been completed available on-line at Norman’s “promotion” from accompanist to musical director was hardly an ill- poured my life’s blood into this music, could hardly bear it. If the show opened by the time Coward was due to leave www.noelcoward.net from February judged flight of fancy on Coward’s part; for as well as having been Coward’s had painstakingly and lovingly written in London as it is it wouldn’t run a for Jamaica on December 15th, and 2004. accompanist and principal amanuensis since the war years, Norman was a sea- down every single note of it, and apart week ... thank god we have another nothing was going to stop him, not His email is: [email protected] Page 6 Page 7