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Home , Family Album (play), Fumed Oak, Graham Payn, Peter Bowles, Present Laughter, Shadow Play (play)

In the UK... Fallen Angels July 2006 1 Sep to 31 Dec - Bill Kenwright Ltd, UK Tour FREE TO - 6 Apr to 5 Aug - Starring November and December 2006 MEMBERS OF Theatre Royal, Haymarket. THE SOCIETY The Noël Coward Theatre - Avenue Q 26 May to 4 Nov - Theatre by the Lake, Keswick Price £3 ($5) Blithe Spirit 20 Jul to 13 Aug - Incisor Productions, St Anns 16 to 25 Nov - Stonegate Amateur dranatic Society, Village CHAT Well Gardens, Brighton Hall, Stonegate, East Sussex home Private Lives Fallen Angels 26 May to 4 Nov - Theatre by the Lake, Keswick 1 Sep to 31 Dec - Bill Kenwright Ltd, UK Tour Tonight At 8.30 2007 Chichester Festival Theatre's summer season. In - Will Young - The Royal Exchange Theatre from the Minerva Theatre, playing in two triple bills the 17th January to March 10th 2007. Tickets are available on n a balmy day in the church of St. Paul’s, from 13th July - 2nd Sep. 0161 615 6815 or 0161 833 9833 Covent Garden, The Actors’ Church, on Friday Part 1 The Astonished Heart (, Red Private Lives 30th June 2006, a congregation drawn from the Peppers, The Astonished Heart) 19 to 27 Feb 2007 - The Bancroft Players, The Queen Mother Oworld of theatre, its audiences and those who loved, Part 2 (Hands Across the Sea, Theatre, Hitchin, Hertfordshire knew and admired him gathered to celebrate Graham Shadow Play, ) BO:01243 781312 or Blithe Spirit Payn’s life. In a remembrance service that recalled both www.cft.org.uk. 25 to 28 Apr 2007 - Knutsford Little Theatre, Knutsford, his professional and personal qualities, tributes were Carry On Coward Cheshire paid to his gifts as a singer, actor, director and guardian 16 Aug (7.30 pm) - The Granary, Wells, Norfolk In North America... of the Noël Coward legacy - but it was his personal 18th (8.00 pm) & 19th ( 2.30 & 8.00 pm) Aug - July 2006 warmth, modesty and honesty that was recalled with The Auden Theatre, Holt, Norfolk greatest affection by those who spoke about him. www.rumpustheatrecompany.co.uk/ Jun 15 to Nov 18 - Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ont. - The Shaw This edition of Home Chat joins in that celebration August 2006 Festival opens its 45th season. with tributes taken from the service and other Hay Fever - 6 Apr to 5 Aug - Starring Judi Dench Fallen Angels contributions that talk about Graham. at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. July 21 and runs Fri/Sat until August 19 with a Sunday Mat. The music at the remembrance service was played The Noël Coward Theatre - Avenue Q on Aug.13 and a Thursday. show on Aug. 17. Orinda Village by Mark Etherington and Michael Haslam. Michael Fallen Angels Starlight Players in an outdoor amphitheater in the small town gave a piano recital of songs by Noël Coward and 14 to 26 Aug - Bill Kenwright Ltd, Theatre Royal, of Orinda, California before the service. Windsor. August to December 2006 The Reverend Simon Grigg began the service: Tonight At 8.30 ...he was just about the best Chichester Festival Theatre's summer season. In 16 Nov to 17 Dec – Mad Cow Theatre, Orlando, Florida the Minerva Theatre, playing in two triple bills Fumed Oak friend I ever had in my life... from 13th July - 2nd Sep. Mon. Nov. 6 1.00 pm - Food For Thought at The Players, Graham Payn on Noël Coward Star Quality located at 16 Gramercy Park South, which is on East 20th 8 Jun 2006 - 4 Sep 2006 Ian Dickens Prod. Ltd: Street between Park Avenue and Irving Place directly across 1 to 5 Aug - The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury the street from historic Gramercy Park, New York. This would seem to be the moment, BO:01227 787787 Blithe Spirit The hour, the place, the height, Private Lives 22 Nov to 9 Dec - Belleville Theatre Guild, Pinnacle Street, The setting is romantic, 26 May to 4 Nov - Theatre by the Lake, Keswick Bellville, Ontario The atmosphere is right, 7 to 12 Aug - Dawlish Rep. Co., Shaftesbury Hay Fever The breeze provides a tune for us, for a full list see www.noelcoward.net Items in red are professional companies - for a full list see www.noelcoward.net Theatre Dawlish, Devon 3 Nov to 4 Dec - CenterStage, Baltimore College So let’s make the most of our chances Blithe Spirit 19 to 28 Oct - Borelians Community theatre, Port Perry, And hold on tight. private 8 to 12 Aug - Connaught Productions, Frinton Ontario So many stars are shining life and relationships too. And let’s face it if you can’t talk Summer Theatre Private Lives We couldn’t ask more about your boyfriends in this church then where can you (laughter) September 2006 Oct. 6-Nov. 30 - Wayne State University Theater, Detroit This seems to be the moment in time - just don’t tell the Church of ! (laughter) There is also an Star Quality Present Laughter We waited for. element of love and celebration here but also a recognition of the 8 Jun 2006 - 4 Sep 2006 Ian Dickens Productions 21 Sep to 7 Oct - Stage Centre Productions, Scarborough, The lyric from the song that you just heard, the only sadness of the parting of death as well as in Christian tradition Ltd: 19 to 23 Sep - Buxton Opera House Ontario published song that Graham Payn ever wrote, and hope of resurrection. I invite you in your tradition to pray - (after a BO:0845 127 2190. 2007 indeed this does seem to be the moment. pause): Blithe Spirit Private Lives For we have gathered here together to celebrate, Father in heaven we thank you because you made us in your 11 to 23 Sep - Ilkley Players, Wharfside Playhouse 13 Jan to 2 Feb, 2007 - Bloor West Village Players, Bloor commemorate and give thanks for the life and career of own image and gave us gifts in body, mind and spirit. We thank you Theatre, Ilkley, Yorkshire Street West, Toronto, Ontario 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 19 to 23 Sep - Incisor Productions at the New Waiting In The Wings Paul’s Church this morning for this memorial service. we honour his memory make us more aware that you are the one Theatre Royal Portsmouth, 023 9264 9000. 28 Feb to 17 Mar, 2007 - Victoria Theatre Guild, Langham This famous church known throughout the world as the from whom every perfect gift comes including the gift of eternal life October 2006 Court Theatre, Victoria, BC actors’ church is the proper place to remember Graham through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Blithe Spirit In the Rest of the World... who made a significant contribution to 20th century Dany Dasto, Graham’s friend welcomed everyone: 5 to 7 Oct & 10 to 14 Oct -Tabs Productions, Australia theatre. Partly of course this was as an interpreter of I am Dany Dasto, Graham’s friend and Graham and I would Chatham Theatre, Kent 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 17 to 21 Oct - Cotswold players, The Cotswold 19 Oct 2006 - 14 Nov 2006 - Queensland Theatre Co & State Noël in this theatre - I mean this church (laughter) - well don’t be too long, otherwise, you know, they will leave at the ON? WHAT’S Playhouse, Stroud, Gloucestershire 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 Private Lives 10 Nov 2006 - 2 Dec 2006 - Queensland Theatre Co & State be balanced so we will be looking back at not only he brought to anyone who knew him. Thank you for coming - I will 26 May to 4 Nov - Theatre by the Lake, Keswick Theatre Co of South Australia, Adelaide Graham’s professional life but also at his personal and be short!

Page 12 OBITUARIES A favourite hymn of Graham’s The Day determination always to keep Noël’s words as 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 they were written. In later years, when Graham 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. so happily found in wholly owned by things that one would have expected, principally that had written those early musicals. It had been she, after all, ’s Dany the kind of life 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: companion he had been part of the charitable trust: understanding of British in its home country is which he will be forever remembered. When Graham died a to Noël, we used to The Noël Coward Foundation. limited, and most of the To date I have seen only few months ago, the meet either at the Swiss writing lamentable. Slade one obituary of Peter Unless otherwise stated all Julian Slade and papers all noted not chalet or here in images and text are copyright was a much better writer Greenwell, who died at his surprisingly what a London and compare to NC Aventales AG than we have been told, home in Spain on 4 June wonderful friend and notes on the people All correspondence should be and was especially proud of 2006. That piece was companion he had been to we’d met and the plays sent to: his many Shakespeare Peter Greenwell misleading and inaccurate, Noël Coward, but I think it we’d seen. When Ruth The Noël Coward Society, songs, almost unknown to and missed the target by matters this morning to (Leon) and I left our 29 Waldemar Avenue, the British public. Slade always felt the highlighting his career as a cabaret performer recall what a wonderful first marriages and got Hellesdon, Norwich, critics made out he was an unsophisticated above his work as a composer. Greenwell was friend he was to all of us, together he was the NR6 6TB, UK ninny. Nothing could have been further a true musician in a way that Slade would email: johnknowles@noëlcoward.net and, what a wonderful first to make us from the truth. never have claimed to be. I first met him in the Tel: +44 (0)1603 486 188 man he was in his own welcome, and when we He was a scholar, and a composer who 1970s, when – a callow student – I wrote what right. He also of course bought our first house Editor: John Knowles struck a chord with mid-1950s hopes that was probably a pretty gushing fan letter, and he had a long and varied he gave her a desk and Publication and Distribution: made Salad Days the extraordinary invited me to his house. That meeting went so career across forty years: me a leather armchair, Stephen Greenman (UK) experience it was. The deep melancholia well that it was over thirty years before I met he was a singer and as if already knowing Ken Starrett (US) that underpins his music has remained him again, but during that time I never lost my dancer in The Lyric that she’d be there Music Correspondent: unappreciated, yet this show alone has three admiration for his work, not least his music for Dominic Vlasto Revue and The Globe doing the work and I’d darkly poignant songs ‘We said we the 1959 musical play The Crooked Mile. Revue and he appeared in wouldn’t look back’, ‘I sit in the sun’ and, This had been a collaboration with Peter be asleep in the corner. Contributions are invited from countless Coward one of the most exquisite he ever wrote, Wildeblood, based on Wildeblood’s novel The Reverend Simon Grigg When I had a stroke members of the Society. productions, everything a year or so ago he was the first on the phone The editor reserves the right ‘The time of my life’. ‘West End People’, and together they went on from to Waiting In The Wings asking me how I was and more importantly to edit all copy and images I knew Slade well for thirty years, first to write two more musicals, House of Cards very often in roles especially written for him by how Ruth was bearing up, knowing as usual and decide on the inclusion visiting him at his family’s home in Priory and The People’s Jack, after which Wildeblood Noël. that I’d be a hopeless patient. I knew then that of items. Walk, London, and later at Beaufort Street, said that he simply couldn’t go on writing Speaking for myself, I have so many we could have asked Details of items included in both of which establishments he kept in a state of permanent musicals because they took so long to work on and then only reasons to be grateful to him for anything, and What’s On? are as received, disarray. Even when subsequent success proved hard to come ran for a short time, and – hey! – he had to earn a living. So, with our thanks, from: him. We first met almost although we didn’t, just by, he never descended into bitterness, and always (how the British critic and the British public between them had lost forty years ago, when I Samuel French UK and different from some other British musical composers one one of the most intelligent and promising partnerships of the knowing that he was on Canada (Play Publishers and was working on the first could mention) took a real interest in new work and young time: the Two Peters. the end of a Swiss Author's Representatives), Coward biography, A phone was immensely Ken Starrett (US), composers. Free as Air has always seemed to me to be his The Crooked Mile will stand as a monument to both Talent To Amuse, a book cheering. Alan Brodie Representation best score, containing such gems as ‘Nothing but sea and sky’ Peters’ talent, for it is one of the bravest, most splendid, which could never have It’s perhaps ironic (Professional Productions), and ‘Terhou’, but other neglected scores (notably Wildest inspiring scores one could hope for. Greenwell was delighted been written without him. that the man Noël NCS members and Dreams) await rediscovery. when the original cast recording was brought back on CD. It We later-worked together thought incapable of 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- on two other books, Noël hard work spent his last 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 Coward and His Friends years working harder 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 which we wrote with professional productions asked, and I waved various ideas at him. What about an wrote for an earlier musical, The Three Caskets, seems to me than anyone for the contact: darling Cole Lesley based adaptation of ‘The Auction Sale’, an autumnal story of English to be his real masterpiece, written for the Players Theatre Noël Coward Alan Brodie Representation on Noel’s own scrapbooks, Foundation, but I think 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, and then Graham and I above all else what I For amateur productions Mr Stanyhursts’, a mysteriously beautiful novella by Hugh and for whom he wrote other such musicals as Antarctica and co-edited Noel’s Diaries. shall always recall contact: Edwards?; what about, even, a sequel to Salad Days, catching Twenty Minutes South. It has to be said that the management Working on those, I about Graham is that Samuel French Ltd. up with Timothy and Jane after fifty years? of the Players’ held faithful to his promise and his work, a came across and of course more than anyone I 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. deleted a passage in ever knew he 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 which Noel was (I understood the art of had fought to establish and keep his reputation, one can different world, might have produced more scores just as thought) unusually and 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. friendship, and that it’s Coward contact: unfairly critical of Leonard Bernstein invited him to write the lyrics for a musical Eventually Greenwell left England, delighting in writing Sheridan Morley all about giving as well Methuen Graham, describing him as receiving. Not 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 as hopelessly lazy and maddeningly unwilling perhaps in the West End sense, but in private 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 to work at his career. The next time we met, life he was a great star. 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 Graham asked me about the reasons for my red then spoke: 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 pencil; well, I said cautiously, I thought that Annie and I first met Graham when he and was, but Slade would have been too modest to describe few months ago. Like Slade, he never lost his interest in the perhaps as co-editor you wouldn’t fancy seeing I played in a revival of Present Laughter at the 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 in print that kind of description of yourself. Queen’s Theatre in 1965. It starred - a 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 “Nonsense” said Graham; “it’s what Noel General Secretary: owner of the theatre who said ‘You know, Julian, I think that seeing the work of lesser writers find public favour. Both marvellous cast - Nigel Patrick as Garry Stephen Greenman thought and believed and of course it must stay opening song, ‘The things that are done by a don’, is a Slade’s and Greenwell’s work cries out for re-evaluation if Essendine, Phyllis Calvert, Maxine Audley and General Manager: in.” And so we left it in. the marvellous Avice Landon and Sheila Keith John Knowles masterpiece’. ‘Really Jack?’ ‘Yes, I think it’s a work of there is to be any real understanding of twentieth century In that one moment I saw two things - his as the Swedish cleaning lady. Graham played North American Director: genius.’ ‘Why?’ ‘It’s such a brilliant way to start a show. British musical theatre. enchanting modesty, and his fiery the rather thankless part of Garry’s agent and I 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 was the mad This is to let you know by Dominic Vlasto playwright Roland That when I'd turned out the lamp n the June Home Chat, John Knowles told of the recent more than the show version in the Refrains. Basically, the Maule. Graham And in the dark I lay Theacquisition Various by the Society of a rare, Versions hitherto unreleased ofentire final‘Uncle musical section ofHarry’ both Refrains is repeated to was selfless, warm That suddenly piercing loneliness, like a knife, recording of Coward singing ‘Uncle Harry’, and how we extra lyrics. In Calcutta, after the first “Uncle Harry’s not a and very funny. He Twisted my heart. for you were such a long long way Iwere investigating whether it was lyrically unique. This was missionary now!”, to repeated music we get Uncle Harry always made us away. 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” laugh at his story more change, not to mention incompleteness in the printed with dear Aunt Mary, and then you get the bit about “they of his first audition This is to let you know versions available, than any other Coward song I know: the didn’t brandish knives at him, they really were awfully for Coward at the That there are no English words combination of lyric and structural changes to the song over sweet”. All this happens before the middle Verse section Adelphi Theatre That ever could explain an eleven-year performance period in themselves provide a (“Now Uncle was just a seeker…”) which in turn is followed for a part in one of How, quite without warning, lovingly you were here fascinating insight into a little-appreciated facet of music- by the second Refrain. Here, the Calcutta NCR preserves a Noël’s revues in Holding me close, smoothing away the idiotic pain. theatre composition – that nothing is ever quite fixed in stone. wartime lyric version in which “The older girls just tossed 1932 when he was In the recorded legacy, this “new” recording was actually their curls and gave the Nazi salute” before tearing their a very young This is to let you know the song’s fourth airing, and the third for Coward himself Mother Hubbards off and winding them around their heads, would-be That all that I feel for you (NCR): the first was made with Norman Hackforth’s piano and the final section of Refrain is then repeated, where poor performer, Can never wholly go. accompaniment in Calcutta in 1944 (in the form in which is dear Aunt Mary places a flower behind her ear, and, frankly, fortunately he I love you and miss you, even two hours away, was then currently being performed, one assumes), the second exposes her … wrote down in his With all my heart. was the ‘Original Cast’ recording (OCR) with Mantovani’s Today it seems strange that this extended structure and book My Life With This is to let you know. orchestra and Graham Payn as soloist (in the “show form”), more dramatically-integrated lyric was not adopted for the Noël Coward. It is made in December 1946 in London. Coward then did his own show and Mantovani recordings, as it makes a firm comeback always worth There followed a tribute by Geoffrey Johnson who was commercial release of the song for HMV a month later, again for the cabaret performances in 1951, the subsequent reading again: Richard Briers Noël Coward’s representative in the US. with Mantovani’s orchestra, and the Harry Allan Towers NCR Phillips/Wally Stott recording, and the American In the front row I am Geoffrey Johnson and I have come from New York recording came just five months later, and again used performances, and is probably the version that everyone of the “audience”: several apparently disinterested theatrical today to remember my good friend Graham Payn. I first met Mantovani and his orchestra. knows today. Was it just that in 1946-47 it was still executives, including one elegantly poised man. (I remember Graham in Philadelphia in 1961. I was working on The song’s next airing was in the Café de Paris cabaret considered reprehensible to talk about exposing one’s bust in thinking he was smoking his cigarette and Graham performances of 1951-54, shortly before the fourth of which public (so to speak)? And if so, then were wartime audiences in a funny way.) On our side of the arrived at the the next NCR recording of the song was made, for Phillips two years earlier really so different? Perhaps the wartime, full “footlights”: an upright piano with an ‘City of Brotherly Records, in London in summer 1954, with Wally Stott’s bust-exposing version was conceived with the knowledge that elderly lady accompanist who'd seen it Love’ midst great, orchestra and Norman Hackforth again at the piano. Then the immediate intended audience would react best to a more all before (more than once), and my great try-out followed the two American NCR recordings, both with Peter obvious, less subtle titillation. mother, aggressively swathed in her confusion we Matz’s accompaniments/arrangements, with the Carlton Hayes Added to these basic structural differences are also some best and only fur. And me. were in the Orchestra in Las Vegas and for the TV Spectacular with Mary other lyric variants: at the time of the cabaret performances I was wearing the de rigeur costume middle of getting Martin, Together With Music, both during 1955. (Curiously the first Verse section was rewritten (starting “We all of us for any young aspiring male entertainer rid of one leading enough, after this there were no further really notable have relations, those crosses in life we bear, a gloomy group moving towards puberty: an lady, blending recordings of the song until Peter Greenwell’s in 1995!) of Uncles, cousins and aunts”) and the bit in the second immaculate Eton suit and a parting in her role into Readers familiar with the song-form terms Verse and Refrain where boots and suits are burned and horrible smells my hair that obeyed all the rules of another leading Refrain can skip this paragraph. If you are not familiar: the generated is much improved lyrically. You have only to hear geometry. The words my mother had lady’s role. I Refrain of a song is usually pretty obvious – it’s the “main” Coward himself delivering the line, “They also burned his dinned into me before we entered the think it was a bit and almost always quotes the title of the song, usually at mackintosh, which made a dis-gusting smell” – a great theatre rang in my ears: “There’s not first in the history its start but often also at its close. Think of ‘Mrs moment of comic timing – to recognise the improvement. much scope for a boy soprano in a L to R: Dany Dasto, Barry Day and Robert Gardiner of American Worthington’ or ‘Mad Dogs’ for obvious examples. The The main differences – the unique features – of the Harry show like that...so sing and dance at the musicals. Times Verse section is the “other” section of music, which usually Allen Towers recording of June 1947 are mostly in details of same time.” The moment the accompanist rattled the keys, I pretence that Graham drove down from New York to (but not always) precedes or introduces the Refrain. the orchestration: it has a shorter instrumental introduction launched into an all-out display of my singing and dancing Philadelphia in this jazzy red convertible and anybody who Sometimes, as in ‘Mrs Worthington’, a Verse section than the January version, introduces the “vamp” bars before prowess. Remembering to do both things more or less together knew Mr. Payn very (“Regarding yours, dear Mrs Worthington…”) is sandwiched the first Verse, and often uses a softer, more delicate kept me too busy to notice the audience's absolutely stunned well knew how much between Refrains. Verse sections, especially for some of the orchestration, with flutes and woodwinds, for example, reaction. Undoubtedly these theatrical ladies and gentlemen he loved cars of all waltz love-songs, can be quite complex and extended affairs. playing passages originally scored for brasses. I find it had been exposed to more than their fair share of child sorts. In addition to An interesting discovery with ‘Uncle Harry’ is that in its interesting that Coward clearly took enough of an interest in prodigies. But, clearly, never to one singing “Nearer My God Graham’s slight original form (as in the Calcutta NCR) it had no introductory how his own music was scored and structured that these to Thee” while doing a tap dance. obsession with cars Verse section, but kicked straight off into the first Refrain changes happened at all, but that does not identify on whose Visibly moved, the elegant man got to his feet, turned to his his other off-stage (“Poor Uncle Harry wanted to be a missionary…”) after a initiative they were made. colleagues and declared in clipped tones, “We have to have mania was four-bar intro. The introductory Verse section (“Our family A footnote: it was said that the Harry Allan Towers that kid in the show.” That was when Noël Coward made the gardening, he was has traditions, we’ve heard them a thousand times…”) was recordings featured “one other female singer who has not as best casting decision of his life! (applause) very good at it, or at added for the show version, and remained lyrically stable yet been identified”. Yes, she has. She is Victoria Campbell. David Christopher Ragusa accompanied by organist Simon least giving Jean through the production, its OCR and the two subsequent A full (uncleaned) set of Coward’s, Graham Payn’s, Joyce Gutteridge then sang Nearer My God To Thee. (applause) René in Switzerland Mantovani Orchestra NCRs. At this stage, however, this Grenfell’s and Victoria Campbell’s tracks, compiled onto CDs then read This Is To Let You Know orders on what to Verse section said that “our ancestors were unequivocally by Alan Farley, has for some time been deposited with the plant or not plant or right” and “though quite a lot were eaten up, a few of them main Coward archives. Coward’s own tracks have been This is to let you know to un-plant. I only succeeded”. released on CD (but they didn’t have the proper ‘Uncle Harry’ That there was no moon last night remembered recently You might think, then, that the OCR and both Mantovani and re-used the January 1947 version for that). Very little of And that the tide was high that Gerry Hogan NCRs are more complete than the Calcutta NCR; but you the rest has ever been released. You can check the details on And that on the broken horizon glimmered the lights of and I had given ships Graham a purple would be wrong, because this “omission” of the first Verse on the NCMI, in the Discography sections, where the tracks are Geoffrey Johnson the Calcutta NCR is more than made up for by it having much collectively known as ‘NCRP’ – the Noel Coward Radio Twenty at least, like a sedate procession passing by. lilac tree for the Programmes. Page 10 Page 3 shower garden. It was his seventieth birthday he was this man is very, very human after all. overjoyed and he sent us photographs - photographs from I first met Graham just after several of us had bought the a short ramble through the Editor’s activities every angle and he assured us that the pictures he sent were a rights to make a feature film of Hay Fever. Several years later Conversation piece... little too pale - not really very good - but he loved that bush. when our rights had finally expired. Someone pointed out that weekend to remember - undoubtedly - followed by a All I can say is long may those alpine highlights bloom in we had achieved something of a record in terms of seed money week of activity. On Thursday 29th June I went to Graham’s memory. in trying to make a film London to meet Ken Starrett and prepare for the Graham always said, “I’ve that we never quite CowardA events during the next day. Ken and I were guests of never been much at writing managed to make. But as Barbara Longford and her husband Patrick at their apartment letters” and he took a great my dear wife Pirjo wisely in Kensington. As usual the hospitality was excellent and deal of criticism from Noël and pointed out think of all suitably fortified we set off the next morning - a happy trio - then Coley, who was the great the fun you’ve had in in an air-conditioned people-carrier to St. Paul’s Church. Such letter writer of all time. But I’m trying to make the film luxury - no struggling with the heat-conditioned tube - and here to dispute that today. I am and above all think of the arriving outside the door ‘fresh and aspiring’ rather than ‘stale a terrible keeper, I save friendships that you’ve and perspiring.’ My job for the morning was to make a everything and after we lost made. Our one special recording of events at the Memorial Service for Graham Payn, Graham I found many of his friendship was of course the results of which can be seen in this very tome. messages in my files. Most of with Graham. It was I set up an expensive stereo microphone (you can tell his messages are very brief, based on this that expensive microphones because they have a sponge bit on the things like: ‘Happy Birthday - Graham asked me to end and look terribly chi-chi and professional). People arrived, ‘When I showed this disc to Noël he asked we’ve terrible cards in become one of the famous face after famous face and I tested the microphone “Where the .... did you get this?” Neither he swinging Switzerland!’ or trustees of his ‘Noël recording by listening in on numerous conversations between or Coley could remember if it was in their ‘Terribly sorry you’re having a Coward Foundation.’ And theatricals that I promise will never be revealed. Michael collection. boring operation but if you feel L to R: David Christopher Ragusa, , Richard Briers, as you may know the Haslam struck up on the piano and the tunes that both Graham any strange sensations just Ruth Leon and Sheridan Morley Foundation contributes and we love held sway until the service began. It really was a know it’s me thinking of you.’ funds to a range of theatres and to acting schools and now to marvellous occasion, carefully crafted by those who love and And there are many more - but we’re in church today! the Noël Coward Theatre. So I hope you’ll agree with me that care for Graham and Noël and their work. Tributes and (laughter). I think most of you know that Graham said at one this foundation must surely be Graham’s greatest legacy in performances intertwined to provide, as Simon Grigg said, time that he would like his epitaph to be simply ‘Friend of terms of keeping the flame alight in honour of his dear friend “snapshots” of Graham’s professional and private life - I was Noël Coward.’ May I add to that dear Graham the last line of Noël. so glad to be there - and to now have the luxury of hearing it a poem Coley once gave me, Finally just one very again in the quite of the Society’s Norwich home. ‘Go bravely where for so much special occasion stays in The official opening of the Noël Coward Theatre seemed greatness and gentleness have my mind. We joined the most natural of climaxes to the day and to all that Graham been already. You should be Graham and Dany in had striven for since Noël’s passing. It was a real and warm glad to follow.’ Farewell Dany’s elegant home in welcome from and his staff. The Graham and Noël and Coley. Cannes to celebrate hospitality was superb and the work done on the theatre had Thank you. Graham’s 85th birthday, truly created a West End home for Noël. The most natural of The song Come The Wild only a couple of years games was of course ‘spot the celebrity’. I was delighted to Wild Weather was then sung by ago. Dany had very see Tony and Jen Walton who remembered us from the events Simon Green accompanied on thoughtfully brought some at Christmas in New York and to see so many who were or are The only one in the World! An album the piano by Michael Haslam. records from Les Avants in Coward productions. Pride of place must go to Moira Lister containing the six 12” Decca recordings of There followed a tribute by of Graham singing over the only remaining member of that rare club ‘Coward’s Pacific 1860. The, now a little battered, cover is Robert Gardiner a trustee of the years and Graham on leading ladies’, who looked wonderful. Those present included signed by both Noël and . The Noël Coward Foundation. his 85th birthday sitting at Cameron Mackintosh, Lord and Lady Attenborough, Dame First let me quote Graham this table of close friends Judi Dench with Keith Baxter (who auditiond for Orson Wells in his own words. ‘Once in very quietly and very at this theatre when it was the New Theatre and ended up Jamaica Noël, Coley and I movingly began to sing playing Prince Hal in Chimes at Midnight). Alan Rickman and were messing around the the words ‘Jean Louis , , Nichole McAuliffe, Simon Callow, swimming pool at Firefly. I Dominic Pierre Bouchon Donald and Marc Sinden, , , Kim was feeling very pleased with The congregation at St. Paul’s Church, Covent Garden True to the breed that bore Medcalf, Belinda Lang, Ned Sherrin, Patrica Hodge and June life so I performed an him...’ and to us this was Whitfield. impromptu song and dance routine. This gave rise to some our most treasured memory of Graham. At one point quite exhausted and on my fourth glass of crack from Noël about my singing so in mock indignation I There followed a musical interlude when the violinist iced tea (they were brought with exceptional regularity by the drew myself up and blustered I’ll have you know that people Michael Keelan played Graham’s favourite piece of classical same young waiter) I sat with Stephen Marshall who knew have paid good money to see me sing and dance. Noël shot music, Violin Partita No. 3 in E major by JS Bach, BWV Noël Coward and knows more about him than most. We were back ‘Yes but not very many and not for very long.’ (laughter) 1006: Gavotte talking about our Coward collections (many will remember ‘Thoroughly pleased with himself he plunged into the pool Penelope Keith then introduced Coward’s verse, When I from previous rambles that my wife is of course very and I wanted to say - ‘Well it was mostly your material’ - Have Fears. priviliged to be living amongst my own collection) and what (laughter) but I didn’t. Noël had devised his exit line and I just Last night I was looking through the Noël Coward Diaries to do with them in preparation for our eventual demise. The had to let him keep it.’ For me that’s pure Graham, generous and I found amongst many others, three references to fall-back position is of course to say well they must go to totally unselfish in spirit. And yet for many of us here today Graham’s performances in Sign No More by Sir Noël. On the Birmingham (the university I mean) but access is all and we - Sock suspenders given to Noël by the real joy of knowing Graham was that just when we used to 10th of July 1945 he wrote, ‘Grahamis fine with style in us collectors that is - suffer from is the belief that what we Christmas 1947. Engraved N.C.XMAS and G.L.1947. Seen think this man is so warm and so thoughtful and altogether everything he does.’ And on the 14th November 1946. have is special and needs to be seen by everyone with an here together with the catalogue from the fund-raising auction too sweet to be true Graham would come out with a wicked ‘Graham, is really charming, easy and graceful and unself- interest in Coward. To prove a point here are some of those at the Norwich Playhouse where they were bought. one-liner as ascerbic as any of Noël’s and one would think conscious.’ And on the 23rd January 1947, ‘Graham did his special items. Firstly two from Stephen and then one from me.

Page 4 Page 9 ...continued from Page 6 speech at the end very charmingly.’ And so he was in life, “Little Lad has now done a cherub's head. It had too I had this number with the unfortunate title ‘It Couldn’t Matter Miss Conti reports on ‘Little Lad’ stylish and full of that rare and now sadly diminishing quality bulging a forehead to start with and looked like it had a Less,’ and frankly it couldn’t. It wasn’t one of Noël’s by the charm. I am now going to read a poem by Sir Noël which he gumboil but that, after bitter words, has been rectified.” way. I just couldn’t do anything with it. So I said that to Noël wrote when Graham was away on holiday, away from him and and he said ‘Nonsense, it’s a perfectly good number.’So I said, it was only discovered after Sir Noël’s death: And so they really did live happily ever after. They were ‘Alright then let’s see you do it.’Well you’d think I’d just true friends for 30 years. Few of us are so lucky. But luck sworn in church, everyone went quiet. But the great thing When I have fears, as Keats had fears, came to Graham twice. For the last 30 years of his life he had about Noël was that he would never ask you to do something Of the moment I’ll cease to be the companionship of Dany Dasto here. he couldn’t do himself. Which of course gave him plenty of I console myself with the vanished years Dany now has two torches to carry. One for Graham and scope. So he tried to sing it several times and finally said, Remember laughter, remembered tears one for Noël. It's a big job, Dany, and we are all here to help ‘You’re right - it isn’t strong enough. I’ll write you another And the peace of the changing sea. you carry them. I think you know that. song.’ And I thought, ‘Oh yes, 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 fell 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. his annual report from the Italia Conti Stage School, Theirs was a loving, teasing relationship. For example, when dated Summer Term 1938, and signed by the grand 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 dame herself has been provided by Barry Day who is 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 Tpublishing his book, The Noël Coward Letters in September flag. . . do we really say what we deeply feel until it’s too late? Wherever you may roam, or October this year. This report was provided when Graham “Little Lad, with a persistence born of his crude tom-tom You will remember the light was in his 19th year and clearly shows his progress: upbringing, went beetling off on his own and found some I'm sad I never got to say Goodbye Through the winter night “Graham is no longer a student - but his work has broadened land.” But then, I never really thought you’d go. That guides you safely home. out & become neat & decisive. He has much more colour in It's not that we talked often, you and I, Though you find his voice too - I have always believed in Graham - & predict And once they were ensconced in Blue Harbour... But then I'd think - “I’ll call and say Hello.” Womenkind he will make a success in acting & films.” Italia Conti “Graham has becom a gardening maniac - he pinches To be frail, The Italia Academy grew out of the first production of the 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, play Where the Rainbow Ends. Italia Conti, who was already 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, an established actress and had a reputation for her success in busy bashing about and planting things upside down.” touch.” working with young people, was asked to take over the job of But still, it seemed enough - it was for me, Matelot, Matelot, training the cast. The play was a triumph and the school was “The jokes we had and the fun.” When friends are friends, the words don't matter much, Where you go born in basement studios in London’s Great Portland Street in Wherever they were there was laughter. Never more so My thoughts go with you, 1911. It has grown into a vast affiliated structure of colleges than when they were painting And that's just what we were until the end Matelot,Matelot, offering training in the theatre arts across the country. And seems to me we were right from the start. When you go down to the sea. The first run of Where The Rainbow Ends was of course “Little Lad, as usual, is at work upon a large ruined So - travel safely on your way, Old Friend, one of Noël’s earliest professional appearances under the 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. guiding hand of Charles Hawtrey. Stephen Cole says: God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord ‘The fairy tale was so beloved that the public demanded it “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 be played almost every Christmas for the next 40 years. 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 During the run, which began on December 21, 1911, Hawtrey architecture is a bit dodgy. I keep on doing lots of people With the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and encouraged the children in the show to stage special matinees 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 of their own device. And it was on February 12, 1912 that 12 For a humble Diseuse, all whom you love and care for this day and always. Amen year old Noël Coward directed 11 year old Dot Temple’s first “Little Lad is painting a large picture of a Priest and an One must betray one's troubles never, play. Noël, a natural leader, relished nothing more than Acolyte in acid moonlight. He suddenly changed the Priest Whatever occurs, Michael Haslam then brought the service to a close with a pushing people around and creating life on the stage and yet 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 another of his talents was revealed.’ not better enough, She is very tall and the Acolyte is Have to look bright. Our Ship? 27 years later Graham Payn received his report some 6 crouching. It is all a great worry.” Whether you're well or ill (Ed. Our thanks to all who contributed to this transcription) years after his first encounter with Noël Coward. People must laugh their fill.

Page 8 Page 5 You mustn’t sleep Till dawn comes creeping.

Though I never really grumble Noël Coward Theatre Opens ... Life’s a jumble indeed And in my effort to succeed Cameron Mackintosh opens final testament to the Master’s enduring value to the world of theatre entertainment I’ve had to formulate a creed here could have been no more fitting a finale to a day of celebration of Graham Payn and his work in maintaining I believe in doing what I can, the memory of his friend Noël Coward than the In crying when I must, Trenaming of the Albery as the Noël Coward Theatre. Graham In laughing when I choose. with Dany Dasto and Alan Brodie have led the efforts of the Heigho, if love were all Coward Estate to establish this physical presence for the Master I should be lonely. in London’s West End. In a generous opening celebration I believe the more you love a man. Cameron Mackintosh, Lord Attenborough and Dame Judi The more you give your trust, Dench welcomed a host of directors, producers, actors and The more you're bound to lose. theatre lovers to this newly furbished theatre home for Noël. Although when shadows fall The sun shone as guests wandered through the foyer past the I think if only bust of Noël by Clemence Dane (Winifred Ashton) and the

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

Graham then talked on record about Matelot: The next time we would meet up was in his first post-war

revue which of course he also directed. Unless shown otherwise all photos: Ken Starrett Alan Davidson Alan Continued on Page 8... PHOTO: Page 6 Page 7