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Home , Christine Ebersole, Jayne Atkinson, Tammy Grimes

Details of some recent and future productions and events Home Chat is the newsletter THE NEWSLETTER OF THE NOËL COWARD SOCIETY - DECEMBER 2008 WHAT’S ON? see www.noëlcoward.net and www.noëlcoward.com for more. . of The Noël Coward Society wholly owned by TREASURE ISLAND 22 January to 28 February 2009, with a cast Noël Coward Ltd. which is including Claire Price (currently in The White NCS member Ken Ludwig wrote the adaptation part of the charitable trust: Devil) as Amanda and Jasper Britton (currently The Noël Coward Foundation. of Treasure Island now on in the West End at in Oedipus at the National) as Elyot. the Royal, Haymarket. The Press night Officers of the Society are: President: HRH The Duke of Kent, KG, GCMG, GCVO, ADC was on November 17th and the show is Chairman: Barbara Longford Vice Presidents: Tammy Grimes • Penelope Keith CBE • Barry Day OBE • Stephen Fry scheduled to run through to the end of February. ON BROADWAY Secretary: Denys Robinson Free to members of the Society • Price £2 ($4) The Broadway revival of Blithe Spirit begins on Treasurer: Stephen Greenman February 26, 2009, and North American Director: A LUNCHEON opens in March at the Ken Starrett Shubert Theatre on Representative for Australia: TAMMY GRIMES IN NEW YORK Broadway. Jeffrey Robert Wickham or an Englishman in New York its spirit is almost constant. The Representative for France: Richards, Jerry Frankel collection of urban villages that make up the city offer a unique Hélène Catsiapis and Steve Traxler will experience for the visitor and resident alike. One can sit produce the revival, that Unless otherwise stated all comfortably in small parks, sidewalk cafés and restaurants with will star , images and text are copyright Fyellow cabs and giant trucks passing by only feet away. Macy’s, , Rupert to NC Aventales AG Tiffany’s and the delights of 5th Avenue shopping are within easy reach; Everett, Simon Jones and All correspondence to: the best neighbourhood restaurants are reasonably priced with clients both . The The Editor, famous and unknown sitting side-by-side with easy respect. New Yorkers The Independent newspaper writes: comedy was first presented 29 Waldemar Avenue, may use one of up to 150 languages but they speak with one voice in their “The American playwright Ken Ludwig's in the US at the Morosco Theater in 1941. Hellesdon, Norwich, determination to live amicably and productively side-by-side and earn a NR6 6TB, UK skilfully filleted account of Robert Louis ‘buck or two.’ This spirit of New York was seen at its best at a very special johnknowles@noëlcoward.net Stevenson's imperishable adventure beefs up the BRIEF ENCOUNTER UK TOUR Tel: +44 (0) 1603 486 188 occasion that took place on Sunday 12 October when the Noël Coward friendship between cabin boy Jim Hawkins (a The Kneehigh production of Brief Encounter Society inducted its newest Vice President, Tammy Grimes. Tammy is a slightly over-age but immensely likeable that has enjoyed Editors: first lady of American theater whose career - outlined in the June 2008 Michael Legge) and piratical Long John Silver such great success John Knowles and Ken Starrett edition of Home Chat - and connection with Noël make her the obvious (played by Keith Allen), to the extent of at The Cinema in Design and Production: candidate for our first American-born Vice President. The upstairs room at Shakespearean reminiscence over their shared John Knowles Sardi’s became the venue of choice to mark her acceptance of this new the Haymarket in Publication and Distribution: devotion to Jim's dead father, and Jim's eventual London's West role. Tammy welcomed each of the 90 guests, present in her honour, at donation of some of the treasure to the Stephen Greenman (UK) their tables. She was accompanied by her biographer Jeffrey Kindley. End is to go on a Ken Starrett (US) marauding fortune hunter.” You can read more Guests at her table included speakers at the luncheon: Philip and Marilyn UK tour. The Music Correspondent: about the opening at www.kenludwig.com Langner (Philip is President of the Theatre Guild). Lee Roy Reems (who company will be Dominic Vlasto The caricature of Tammy Grimes and/or the production website: starred with Tammy in the musical ), Patrick Donohue, Ken visiting the major cities from February 2009 as at Sardi’s restaurant www.treasureislandtheplay.com well as their home base in Cornwall - presenting Contributions are invited from Starrett and John Knowles who presented her with her scroll of their own adaptation of Coward's classic play members of the Society. appointment. Speakers also included noted cabaret performer, KT HAMPSTEAD 50th Still Life and the directed by David Lean. The editor reserves the right Sullivan, Frances Tannehill (President of the Twelfth Night to edit all copy, images and Tammy Grimes and John Knowles Club - a charitable organization supporting actresses), and Joel decide on inclusion of items. Vig (Broadway performer and the Director of Tammy's cabaret TONIGHT AT 8:30 Details included in performance). Present among the guests were film star Celeste ‘What’s On?’ are as received, Ontario’s Shaw Festival will present all 10 plays Holm, Geraldine Ruth (Head of The Ziegfeld Club) and noted with our thanks, from: from “Tonight at 8:30” series, including the cabaret performers, Margot Astrachan, Joyce Breach, Earl rarely produced Star Chamber in one all-day Samuel French UK and Canada (Play Publishers and Levit and Evelyn Page. The programme for the luncheon performance. It will mark only the second time Author’s Representatives), stated: in the US that all of the plays have been Ken Starrett (US), “It all started one evening in 1959 when she was singing in produced by a professional company since their Alan Brodie Representation a small New York night club called, “Downstairs at the London debut at the Phoenix Theater in the (Professional Productions), Upstairs.” Her unique style was particularly appealing to one 1935-36 season - this is the first time that all the NCS members and member of the audience. . . Noël Coward. He had been plays can be seen in one day! Ticket information theatre companies. 1-800-511-7429. Speakers and Table Guests at the Luncheon North London’s Hampstead Theatre marks its For details of rights for 50th anniversary in 2009 with a new production professional productions: of Private Lives, the 1929 comedy by Noël www.alanbrodie.com Coward that famously launched Hampstead’s For amateur productions brought by Roddy McDowall to hear her, and instantly offered fortunes in 1962. In 1962, James Roose-Evans www.samuelfrench.com or Tammy Grimes a role in hi next play. Very shortly afterwards she www.samuelfrench- the founder and first artistic director, presented a would be making her Broadway debut in the starring role of london.co.uk Coward’s play ‘Look After Lulu’. She would win a ‘Theatre World celebrated production of Private Lives, Noël For publishing rights: Coward’s comedy about warring exes Elyot and Award’ for her performance.” www.methuen.co.uk Ken Starrett hosted the event ably assisted by Richard Holbrook. Amanda, which became the theatre’s first West For music rights: As MC, Ken introduced those who came to give voice to Tammy’s End transfer and resulted in what Coward www.warnerchappell.co.uk himself, then in his 60s and out of fashion, achievements in the world of entertainment. On her table was a referred to as “Dad’s renaissance”. Lucy Bailey Produce using QuarkXpress 8 bunch of beautiful white roses - her favourite flower. It was quite directs the new production, which will run from on a Mac QuadPro G5 clear that she was deeply moved by the occasion and the honour that PowerPC the Society and its guests had paid her. John Knowles Page 12 JOIN US IN 2009 - TO CELEBRATE THE SOCIETY’S TENTH BIRTHDAY! Collected archive The Society’s 10th Anniversary COWARD SCRAPBOOK fragments. . . ne of a series of events to mark the Noël Coward Teddington Theatre Club is also celebrating 10 years at the NOËL AT DANIEL MASSEY’S TWO COWARD CARICATURE centenary year in 1999 was a two-day playhouse and they have invited Roger Smith to direct Relative CHRISTENING CHRISTMAS CARDS BY CLIVE FRANCIS conference at Birmingham University, held in Values. Roger worked tirelessly, as Chairman of TTC, to ensure Noël must have been one part to celebrate the ultimate repository of the that this special playhouse site was acquired. The Welcome Gala of the most popular Noël Coward Papers at the University. It was at Reception will begin at 4.30 p.m. and the performance will be at O choices for those in the this conference that the formation of a society to celebrate Noël 6.p.m. (There is a large car park very near the theatre, with no theatre world when it Coward and his works was announced. The Society was created charge on Sundays). came to selecting a following discussions involving Graham Payn (the owner and LONDON CALLING...... godfather. As with manager of the Noël Coward Estate), Michael Imison (the everything else he took his theatrical agent who represented the Estate) and Gareth Pike (a ALL MEMBERS WHEREVER YOU LIVE duties seriously. Daniel Coward enthusiast and collector). At the conference were Massey held here by Noël numerous figures from the worlds of stage and screen, critics, in front of his mother and actors, authors, students and academics. Amongst the great and sister later played Noël in the good were five people who had a keen interest in Coward the film of Gertrude who had applied to attend. Amongst them was John Knowles Lawrence’s life Star. In a who had been developing a Noël Coward website for a year or TV special Daniel recalled so. From that point on a committee was formed and the Society Noël summoning him to a began its work. talk on sex - when he says Now as we approach our 10th anniversary, the Society has he did not find out much over 600 members worldwide. about his own sex life but To celebrate our 10 happy years, the Society is planning a NUDE WITH VIOLIN (1957) learnt a good deal about series of Anniversary Events. Please note the dates in your Noël’s! diaries. Further information will follow in subsequent editions of Home Chat Sunday 10th May, 2009 KENNETH TYNAN ON QUADRILLE ‘The Noël Coward Treasure Hunt’, arranged and hosted by Lisa Foster of Alan Brodie Representation. The Noël Coward Treasure Hunt will be an opportunity for members to get to know one another in a relaxed environment, to build upon and share knowledge of Noël Coward and to gain an insight into Coward’s London. Participants will gather in the morning, at 11.a.m. at a central London venue, either in ready- made teams of no more than five people, or be allocated to Saturday 10th October, 2009 teams on arrival. Each team will be given a set of envelopes In the presence of our President, His Royal Highness, QUADRILLE ON COLE LESLEY’S with questions covering an area of London. They will need to the Duke of Kent, (subject to official duties) - the THE AIR BIOGRAPHY OF travel to the area to get their results. For instance the members present - Hampstead envelope might contain questions about the opening ‘Don’t Put Your Daughter on the Stage’ COWARD of The Vortex, the play itself and that period of Coward’s life. at London’s Hurlingham Club When it was first published Lesley’s This will be an inexpensive event. Members will only need to For our ‘Marvellous Party’ at the Burgh Island Hotel in biography of his master Noël buy a one day travel card and refreshments along the way. September 2008, a group of members arranged a special Coward Coward was greeted with general There will be a prize for the winning team. Revue, under the supervision of music expert, Dominic Vlasto approval. Those who knew him and pianist, Celia Cologne. It was successful and uplifting Tynan was a agreed that Cole knew more about Sunday 5th July, 2009 occasion and revealed to us the depth of talent that exists within controversial figure. Noël than Noël did! A Noël Coward Gala our membership. It was special because clearly all the His hedonistic In the presence of our Vice President, performers shared a deep and heartfelt appreciation of Coward’s lifestyle and Penelope Keith, work. Everyone involved in running the Society and taking an outspoken nature led with a performance of Relative Values active part in its events, does so simply for love of Coward and him to become largely at the Hampton Hill Playhouse. this, I think, is the key to our success. rejected by those Subject to other professional commitments, Penelope Keith So, to mark our 10th anniversary, we should like to invite engaged in has agreed to join the Society on this occasion, when we will members to participate in this celebration. London is calling mainstream literary formally present her with the Scroll of Honour as Vice President. you! If you feel you have a talent to amuse, to sing, dance, activity. Like Noël he The Society has had a long association with the Hampton Hill recite, lecture, produce, direct, compose, then we should like to smoked excessively Playhouse. (www.ttc-hhp.org.uk/hhp-general) Situated near to hear from you as soon as possible. Again, Celia Cologne and all his life. His Coward’s birthplace at Teddington, it houses The Noël Coward Dominic Vlasto will be our musical supervisors for the Revue. perceptive writing and Studio Theatre displaying a selection of Coward memorabilia, John Knowles will also be presenting a special short anniversary wit made him a great donated by the Noël Coward Foundation and by the late Miss film about Coward and there are other surprise treats in store. orator and journalist. Moira Lister, who gave them the Molyneux gown she wore This will be a black tie event which will begin at 6.p.m. with He wrote the ground- when playing Joanna, with Noël in 1947. Co-incidentally, the a Reception in the Palm Court. The entertainment will be from breaking Oh Calcutta!

Page 2 Page 11 will not say - all through dinner I said 6.45 until about 8.30 p.m. and, subject to the presence of The Cadogan, a famous physician of his day and a friend of Garrick CASTELLVI: That is good. Miss Braggart? the jokes - over and over again I said Duke of Kent, we shall take this opportunity to formally present and Sheridan, leased nine acres from the then Bishop on which them to lift the party with a swing His Royal Highness with his Scroll of Honour to mark his to build himself a “cottage”. This is the core of the present ESME: Chinese and nobody laughed or was gay for Presidency of the Society. Hurlingham House. Our event will begin in the elegant Palm one minute - down they went - the The anticipated cost of the event is £55 per person, which Court area, which is the latest edition to the club’s premises and CASTELLVI: What do you mean? poor little jokes - down, down, down. includes secure parking at the club. There will also be an option which houses a tall palm tree beneath a glass dome. There we to stay on for dinner, at an additional charge to be advised in a shall gather for drinks, before entering the Mulgrave Theatre for ESME: Chinese White. Sadly - as everyone who has tried to parody Chekhov has later edition of this magazine. the entertainment. invariably found - it is The Hurlingham Club (www.hurlinghamclub.org.uk) is Would members who would like to volunteer to participate CASTELLVI: That is cheating. Why should I not all too easy for pseudo- situated on the banks of the River Thames, in Fulham and is set in the entertainment please contact the arranger, Barbara say English white or Scotch white? doom and gloom to in 42 acres of magnificent grounds, with a striking Georgian Longford, in the first instance, by e-mail to: emerge sounding like clubhouse. From before 1066 the lands of which Hurlingham ULICK: She is perfectly correct. the real thing. There is forms part, belonged to the Bishops of London who had their barbaralongford@noëlcoward.net Tel: 020 7603 7399 or by no indication why Noël summer residence at Fulham Palace. In 1760, Dr William post to 7 Argyll Mansions, London W14 8QG. EFFIE: Chinese White is a special colour. stopped in the middle of a play which he had CASTELLVI: I do not care - it is a cheat when I say constructed in such AND SEEN THROUGH CEYLON ‘say white’ to say ‘Chinese.’ detail up to that point but it seems highly BY NCS Member Philip Leather from the Netherlands ULICK: If you would concentrate on one likely that, having gone ince leaving for “The unsized flats of Holland” He sailed at the end of August aboard the “SS game at a time, Castellvi, we should so far, he simply I have travelled far and improved the mind, along with Gloucestershire” receiving much helpful advice from fellow all be far happier. couldn’t see where to my partner Gerard. passengers. Disembarking in Colombo he stayed at the Galle take his characters. Or Thirteen years ago we arrived in Sri Lanka. It was to be Face Hotel. CASTELLVI: Do not interfere. possibly he realised that a turning point in our lives. Now, all these years later, The Galle Face Hotel is Sri Lanka’s “Grand Old Lady”. It Swe divide our year between England, Holland and Sri Lanka. started out as an old Dutch villa more then 143 years ago, and by he needed a simplified EFFIE: Seagulls, darling. construction to properly The importance of our charitable work at the Sri Jinanande the end of the 19th century it would be known as “The finest Eleanor von Mendelssohn showcase the one Children’s home in Wellawatta has not only changed the boy’s hotel East of Suez!” Little has altered. CASTELLVI: Why do you say that to me. I do not character who had lives there, but ours as well. I’m standing on the Galle road, to Erik then travelled up into the hill country to a tea and rubber understand. inspired the whole enterprise - Liesl Haren. the right, Colombo the Capital City, to the left Galkissa or in plantation around Nuwara Eliya. English, Mount Lavinia. Nuwara Eliya is still a very charming town, built ostensibly EFFIE: I was going on with the game. **** Ceylon ceased to be a British possession sixty by the British one years ago. With independence the island as a holiday CASTELLVI: The game is over - it is no good - The origin of this version was an invitation from Eleanora von reverted to its original name, but signs of the British retreat to Nothing is any good - I want some occupancy can be found everywhere. The capital’s escape the heat. coffee. “Cinnamon Gardens” the still wealthy district of It still boasts its “Colombo 07”, Government House, the Mount race course, ROSEMARY: I will go and find Albert. (She runs Lavinia Hotel, and the Majestic Galle Face Hotel and half- out) all basking and boasting still in their built-to-last timbered post Victorian gothic splendour. office painted CASTELLVI: Every time I say anything that girl Poorer, although maybe a little world weary in blancmange runs about - is she mad? now from over use, is the railway network. The pink, it has stations are quintessentially English in their The Galle Face Hotel been known to ULICK: No - merely good mannered. architecture, only the backdrop must be replaced snow here! with paddy fields and/or tea plantations. Erik was to remain in Nuwara Eliya for three years. IDENA: I do wish the rain would stop. It The railway network still has its signal boxes and watertanks In the Autumn of 1929 Mrs Coward came for a months stay. makes everyone so odd. and points “made in Sheffield”. Colombo Fort railway station is It must have been quite an adventure, but with Noël away in a filthy, dirty, perfectly preserved (in grime!), example of the America for the opening of “Bitter Sweet” with Evelyn Laye, CASTELLVI: It is not the rain - it is the air around durability of the British. and with family feuding at Goldenhurst, she must have seen the our heads that is thick and heavy with Mendelssohn, the grand-daughter of the composer, to join a Just beside the refreshment room is a picture frame into voyage as a rewarding break. some sadness - it has rained before similar party at her Schloss Kammer-am-Attersee near Salzburg which were set photos of the island around the 1930’s, severely Noël wrote to his mother on the 20th November from New and we have played games and made in the summer of 1937. At that time Eleonora was deeply faded now, it acts as a beginning to a colonial world of Sri Mexico to say he was glad to hear that Erik wasn’t fat, and that the coffee and sung the songs and involved in an affair with the famous conductor, Toscanini. Lanka, which has faded with the photo’s in the frame. he was also planning to visit, bringing his movie camera with been happy - it is not Gerhardt Among the motley gang of guests Noël met Fritzi Massary Outside the railway station, a siding full of defunct and him as he wanted to film Erik on a horse. wishing it to drown - Gerhardt (1882 - 1969), star of German cabaret and . He dilapidated old British steam trains, rusting away and At the end of 1929 and the beginning of 1930, Noël drowns himself every year and it is had seen her first perform in 1922 and now found her relinquished of their duty, passengerless and paintless. embarked on his world tour. While awaiting the arrival of his our joke - captivating in person. Even though she now claimed to be Sri Lanka today is another story. The Coward connection friend and travelling companion Jeffrey Amhurst in Tokyo, he officially retired, he began to think of a role for her on the with Sri Lanka goes back not to Noël, but to his younger brother switched out the lights of his hotel bedroom and Gertrude EFFIE: Oh dear - I wonder how he is - English stage, just as he had three years earlier for Yvonne Erik. Lawrence appeared in a white Molyneux gown on a terrace in Printemps with Conversation Piece (1934). Perhaps it was the In 1928 he was working in the “City” but had ambitious the South of France. Noël began to formulate Private Lives. CASTELLVI: Do not interrupt Effie - I make a realisation that what he had written would not suffice as a star plans for a new life in Sri Lanka. In a letter Erik wrote to his Noël and Jeffrey Amhurst commenced their tour via speech - I make more than a vehicle for her that caused him to leave it unfinished and move mother, Noël was prepared to provide £350 towards the venture, Shanghai (where Noël cabled Miss Lawrence to keep the speech, I make the complaint - it is on to the true operette the world would see a year later. ending his letter by adding, “Don’t think the end of the world Autumn of 1930 free) and Singapore (where Noël appeared with your heart that is making the evening Barry Day has come just because little Erik brighteyes is going all the way a twenty-two year John Mills in R .C Sherriff’s “Journey’s dismal - you have a sorrow that you to Ceylon.” End”) and then by way of Kuala Lumpur and Penang to

Page 10 Page 3 Colombo. whisky) the overall effect of the “Peraherra ”is complete. Noël and Jeffrey were met by Erik in shorts and a solatopi Noël thus departed on the 16th of May 1944 aboard the and stayed on his plantation for a few days. Of this stay there is destroyer ‘Rapid’ en route to Colombo. Yet again a short stay at ‘THE AUSTRIAN VERSION’ a delightful snippet of film recorded on an eight mm portable the Galle Face, and then to Kandy. Duly briefed, and reunited cine-camera ( known as “The Lunch Box”) that can be seen in with Norman Hackforth, they set off with the piano - “The Little This article by Barry Day, meticulously neat travelling clothes.” She is a star of the the second episode of the arena “Noël Coward Trilogy”. Treasure” - to entertain the troops in Assam and Burma. is about an unfinished Austrian musical theatre and she has impulsively cancelled a On returning to Colombo and the Galle Face Hotel Noël and At the end of his tour Noël was nearly killed when his car musical play by Coward tour to visit the Schloss. Castellvi sums up her reputation: “Liesl Jeffrey ran into Cole and Linda Porter on their world tour. crashed with a naval lorry. This left him unable to move his right entitled Operette and is perfection - she is a rare spirit - a little sharp Madonna in It was at the Galle Face that Noël received the now famous arm. Thoroughly shaken and coupled with the fatigue of all the written in 1937. three-four time - she is the moment when the orchestra is tuning telegram on the subject of Private Lives from Miss Lawrence. touring, he was nearing a nervous breakdown. up - she is the moment when you are just beginning to laugh.” “Your Play is delightful and there’s nothing that can’t be Mountbatten commanded Noël to return to Sri Lanka, It bears little relationship to Sadly, in the material Noël actually wrote Liesl is only given one fixed”. Colombo and the Galle Face, where he stayed a week “Sitting in the musical play that was song to sing - “Operette.” Noël replied back tersely, tears among the alien corn” and depressed because he had to to be staged a year later! **** “The only thing to be fixed will be your performance.” cancel a dozen shows he’d promised Mountbatten for his Act 1 is mostly taken up with bringing on this large cast of In a letter dated June 29th, 1932, Erik wrote to his Mother ‘Special Forces’ in and around Kandy. Eventually he gave three eferred to in the Coward Archives as ‘the Austrian characters and in doing so, the weakness of the play is revealed. telling her he was being sent home on three months sick leave, “Farewell performances” in Trincomalee. Version’ this piece is a latter-day Hay Fever in the There are just too many of them to identify with and, as a result, “As my tummy is all over the place”. On returning back to Nowadays “Trinco” is totally out of bounds to locals and style of Chekhov, the act and a half that exist read too little time to develop most of them. The act ends with all the England he was diagnosed with abdominal cancer. On January tourists alike. The Tamil Tigers have made the North and East of like a play with an occasional musical interval. characters rushing offstage, leaving it empty for the butler, 22nd 1933 he died peacefully at Goldenhurst. Noël was to write, Sri Lanka a no-go area. RAs Noël introduces it: “The action of the play passes ALBERT to bring on a new arrival, MRS. SPENCER- “I was reasonably fond of him, but I cannot honestly say that we Sri Lanka today is another story. in a Schloss (a mountain castle) in Austria. The Schloss is very BOLLARD, the “imposing, fashionably dressed woman of about were ever very close until perhaps the last sad months of his During the 2nd World War Trincomalee was a vital naval old, probably ninth century, and packed with history about forty” who wants to buy the Schloss. Although we never get to life.” port for the Royal Navy. All military and passenger transport which remarkably little is known. It belongs to the GRAFIN see her again, Noël was to resurrect the name for a lady novelist I once got talking to an old man in a train. He asked me from Australia and the Pacific arrived there, and were VON STOLTS (Effie), having been bequeathed to her by her in Sail Away (1962). Nor, for that matter, do we meet perhaps the where I came from. I said “Holland”. “Oh!” He said, “We transported by train, (the only useful thing the British did...... !) husband. She herself is an Englishwoman somewhere in the mid- most intriguing member listed in the cast - NOUNOU started here with the Portuguese, then the Dutch. They built the to Colombo. forties. The Schloss itself stands by the side of a large tranquil GRAVIOLI, “the greatest living female bassoon player” . . . canals here of course, then the English took over.” I said he My Father, now a glorious 82, joined the Navy after seeing lake. The first and third acts take place outside the castle on the spoke English perfectly, he said “So do you”. I said I’d learnt it In Which We Serve (propaganda or what??) He saw action on the terrace overlooking the lake. The second act takes place in the The single incomplete scene of Act 2 has all the characters at school. I was playing a game, but got the reply. D-Day landings. He was then posted further afield to Singapore, main hall.” sitting around after dinner in the living room, reflecting in “I was born and educated during the ‘English Occupancy’ in the Far East, the Pacific and Australia. He too returned via The only real thread of plot evident in the scenes Noël wrote almost a parody of Chekhov on their lot in life. a little village down South. One day a chicken was stolen, the Trincomalee to Colombo on his way home to Blighty. concerns the threat that Effie may have to give up the Schloss “British representative” called all the men of the village to the Noël departed from Sri Lanka in 1944 with a “bread and for financial reasons, something she is totally unwilling to do. MARCHIONESS: We are all growing old - I more than local square. He said if the chicken was not returned to him by 4 butter” poem to his loyal and loving Lord Louis. The rest of the large cast of miscellaneous characters, despite any of you - I remember looking o’clock that afternoon he would shoot them all, it wasn’t and he their constant bickering, all have their own reasons for wishing forward to age, but I must say I find it did. My father was among them and he was innocent. The only It isn’t for me things to stay as they are. To all of them in their various ways the a little disappointing. useful thing the British did here was build the bloody railways. To bend the knee Schloss is both haven and hell. They were all bastards.” I got off the train in Mount Lavinia, And curtsey and cringe and pander We meet the lawyer, ULICK MEYER, “a small dark man CASTELLVI: This is because you are playing silenced. Because my junior happens to be between thirty-five and forty-five with dark hair and a sallow Chopin - there is too much nostalgia The story now moves back and forth. . . A really supreme commander, skin. His face is keen and wise and reasonably Jewish.” ESME in Chopin. Noël, accompanied by Norman Hackforth, his wartime But never the less BRAGGART, “an eminent lady novelist of about fifty. She accompanist, were in 1943 and 1944 entertaining the troops in I must confess, wears a large garden hat with a floating veil and an overall Later the characters play a word game, reminiscent of the one South Africa, when a telegram arrived from Lord Louis Dear Dickie, my stay in Kandy, covering a nondescript summer dress. Her appearance suggests ion Hay Fever . . . Mountbatten asking Noël to entertain the Fourteenth and Apart from being a great success the wife of an English Rural Dean, but this is deceptive as she “Forgotten ”Army in Assam and Burma. Noël was to report to Has made me feel fine and Dandy has a worldly mind and a curiosity which is almost CASTELLVI: We could play a game altogether - Mountbatten in central Sri Lanka-Kandy. pathological.” (Clemence Dane?) ROSEMARY GRAY, “an everyone must say something white Mountbatten was no stranger to Kandy, having visited Kandy I’m still standing in Wellawatte on the Galle Road outside extremely pretty girl who is studying music in Vienna very quickly and if they cannot, they in 1922 with H.R.H. Edward, The Prince of Wales. “The the Sri Jinananda Children’s Home. Today is a bit different as we preparatory to launching herself on a career.” EDWIN pay the money - Liesl? uncrowned King of England” thought little of the famous are awaiting a car to take us on a five minute drive to the Galle THRESHER and OSWALD TRING, “rather wistful young men ‘Temple of the Tooth.’ He wrote “It isn’t a tooth at all, merely a Face Hotel. We could easily have walked, but it was not in elaborate Austrian costume.” . . . the MARCHIONESS OF LIESL: Swans. sordid bit of bone. There was a ghastly procession of elephants permissible. Security everywhere, bombs going off in trains and KINGSBURY (Violet), “a woman of over sixty, she has snow which included native dancing and hideous noises, which was buses, and all our Sri Lankan friends putting their collective feet white hair and traces of great beauty, her dress is black and CASTELLVI: Effie? really native music.” A sibilant and pompous statement. down! “No public transport please!” sweeping and her dignity unassailable” . . . the PRINCESS Presumably he was expecting “Rule Britannia ”or a It hasn’t changed at all. There it stands, “The Grand Old IDENA ILLYANOVSKI, “unmistakeably Russian, still beautiful EFFIE: Snow. selectionfrom The Gondoliers. Lady,” The Galle Face Hotel gazing out into the Indian Ocean. but rather battered looking. She is wearing wide blue serge What his highness failed to appreciate was the annual Kandy The only obvious change is a computer on the reception desk. As trousers and a lot of false pearls” . . . LARIOUS CASTELLVI, CASTELLVI: Idena? Peraherra, a Buddist “Poya day” full moon celebration. This you walk in you plummet into the plush of the carpets. We were “the greatest conductor in the world . . . a fine head, leonine and consists of the traditional Kandy dancers in native dress dancing led out onto the back veranda overlooking the sea and tea was distinguished” . . . LATYMER CHARD and RUTH VERNON, a IDENA: What, darling? their centuries old ritual dances to the rhythm of drums and reed served. couple who wander in and out of the action, constantly instruments. The effect is stunning. Ornately dressed elephants Our hosts were a little embarrassed by the fact that they were rehearsing a play called Christina and Her Soldier - certainly CASTELLVI: Say the white thing? (increasing in number as the days of the festival reach their out on a limb. I knew more about Noël and his Sri Lankan and and referring to their unhappy climax) are accompanied by their mahout. The procession starts connection than they did. No archive exists, only a huge tablet of and isolated film experience in The Guardsman (1931). IDENA: What white thing? at ‘The Temple of the Tooth,’ through the streets of Kandy lined stone set into a wall recording some of the famous who stayed Their introduction leads up to the entrance of the character with lanterns of coconut shells and filled with burning oil. These there and there is Noël and in good company. Noël intended to be the focus of attention - LIESL HAREN, CASTELLVI: Oh my God! Say something white. lanterns are lethal! Sparks flying in the evening breeze cause Laurence Olivier, Vivian Leigh, , Trevor “small, dark and vivacious. Her age might be anywhere between many a burn. However with a totty of “Arak” (the local coconut Howard and Cole Porter. A tablet of stone set in a wall. A forty and sixty. She is exquisitively dressed in the most IDENA: Rice. Page 4 Page 9 memorial to the Sri Lankans of forgotten people from a so much travelling. It is said that he based ‘Samola’ in part on forgotten time. Jamaica, this maybe true, but there are also many colonial traits LETTERS and more. . . What I did learn over tea was Sir John and Lady Mills had that were present in, “The India that we’ve read about,” and visited about eighteen years ago. He saw the tablet of stone and there is more than a passing glance to Sri Lanka. GETTING IT WRONG . . . THE SEQUEL. . . said when it was revised his name ought to be included. The The plantation side of the Samolan stories be it tea, rubber, Having just received my latest newsletter, I feel I must comment chairman Cyril Gardiner asked why. “Well” said Sir John, bananas or coconuts, was a fully developed industry in the on the article on page 8, “Getting It Wrong” - how could “You’ve got Noël up and I worked with colonial tropics. “The only useful thing William Marchant not only be inaccurate in his references to him and I’m just as famous!!!” And so the British did was build the bloody Elisabeth Welch but also not be able to spell her name right - Sir John and Lady Mills are “up” as railways” was in fact in Sri Lanka the anyone who was an admirer of that magic voice knew that she well! only means of getting the produce was very particular (as are all pros) that her name was spelled We were shown around and it is down from the hill country to the correctly: Elisabeth with an ‘s’. . . very nostalgic. You could imagine the harbour in Colombo for export. . . .my mother, the actress Jacqueline Maude, knew her for scene. Noël coming down to dinner, Passenger transport was secondary. over 60 years and we were still going to see her when she went Erik, maybe a little shy and out of The whole idyll is rounded off in to live at Denville Hall, where she was a happy and much loved place, Cole and Linda Porter, all on this the film of Noël’s short story Mr and resident, singing up to almost the very end - I can almost hear terrace dressed up for lunch or dinner, Mrs Edgehill set again in Samola her shouting 'Amen' as I type this! relaxing and chatting drinking tea or during the Second World War and Sarah Maude cocktails. filmed in Sri Lanka. Starring Dame I walked outside to take exterior and Ian Holm. It is The photograph on the right is taken from the MCSR London photos and did so in spite of a police warning it was a high beautifully and thoughtfully brought from book to screen. The cast recording of The Crooked Mile by Peter Wildeblood and Peter security zone and strictly forbidden. I thanked them, said I was story, as a whole, sums up and rounds off the British colonial Greenwell (Noël’s last accompanist) see www.mcsr.org.uk for details. staying at the hotel, and wanted my own photos of a superb stay way of life. The cliff hanger ending rather adding to the with “The Grand Old Lady.” We got in our car and went home to suspense and uncertainty of a world when peace arrives. YULETIDE MAGIC Mount Lavinia. Noël I think was aware of that when he wrote it. The rest as Ironically between the Galle Face and Mount Lavinia in they say is history but the winds still carry an echo of the past. During October NCS member Richard Holbrook put on a dazzling show Richard Wellawatta is “Kinross Beach”! Did Noël walk there storing the Sri Lanka today is another story. A troubled island. The Sings Burton at Sidney Myer’s ‘Don’t Tell Mama’ at 343 West 64th St, New York. name for In Which We Serve ? Or is it coincidental, we’ll never ongoing war in the North and East with the Tamil Tigers has Accompanied by the immaculate playing of the Tom Nelson Trio and with the know. brought the island to it’s economic heels. The tourist sees little support of the late Burton Lane’s wife Mrs. Lynn Lane, Richard introduced packed The Mount Lavinia hotel has its own history, built as a of the ongoing effect. What tourism there is, is bundled into audiences to less well-known compositions from the world of Burton Lane. Familiar weekend retreat on a very grand scale, it is best seen in the film buses and packaged up and off around the island. compositions as On A Clear Day and two favourites from Finian’s Rainbow: Old The Bridge over the River Kwai which was shot exclusively in We however see a rawer side of extreme poverty and Devil Moon and Look to the Rainbow vied with a wide ranging selection of Lane Sri Lanka. Since so many of Noël’s contemporaries appeared in excessive wealth, from daylight robbery to extreme kindness. numbers that provided an evening of humour, pure lyrical swing and poignancy. the film it has a place in the story. The Hotel was used as a Not one trip to Sri Lanka has ever been the same. Richard offers a holiday celebration at the same venue on December 4 and 7 military hospital during the Second World War and in that Six years ago we stumbled into the Sri Jinananda Children’s where his own sophisticated interpretations of seasonally-themed music will hit the function the Hotel is used in the film. The scene of the lovers on home in Wellawatta to be greeted by twenty-five very grubby walls of the cabaret room. The usual $20 cover charge ($10 for MAC and Cabaret the beach is exactly where we sit! The sky line though is boys in even grubbier and unhygienic surroundings. We started Hortline Online Members) and 2 drinks minimum applies. Catch your breath from completely altered. The film also gives wonderful shots around working there, then came the tsunami. Overnight the orphans 5th Avenue shopping and enjoy a seasonal treat on Restaurant Row! Kandy and the Botanical Gardens where, in 1922, H.R.H. arrived and the total rose to fifty, it now stands at seventy-six. Edward, The Prince of Wales, being none too impressed with the Here, along a road that Noël must have travelled many times and LOVELY PHOTOGRAPH SHAME ABOUT THE TITLE - Many thanks to NCS ‘Tooth in the Temple,’ planted a tree! In the intervening years the in the shadow of the Galle Face, twice a year, we arrive with member Timothy Morgan-Owen and other NCS members who rang to let us know that the wonderful gardens have of course matured and are feverishly infested with whatever funding our networking can provide. Proudly we can photograph supplied by Robert Gardiner is of Noël and Gertie in London Calling and NOT Private fruit bats. The location of ‘The Bridge’ itself is in Kitugama. look back but we look to the future and address problems as they Lives as stated in the last edition of Home Chat. Not Robert’s mistake, we must make clear, but the The foundations of the bridge are still visible, although the rest occur. Our last visit enabled us to buy deep freezers and washing Editor’s - what could he have been thinking of! Firstly they are far to young for Private Lives - we are of the location is naturally overgrown and silted up. We made a machines, school uniforms, and for the education of the older talking 1923 here when London Calling, produced by theatrical entrepreneur André Charlot and day trip there only to emerge covered in leeches and dripping in “chaps” two computers. Each visit involves two-day trips away. financed by Lord ‘Ned’ Lathom, first opened at the tiny Duke of York’s Theatre. The revue had 316 blood! It may be a beach party, a trip to the zoo, a tea plantation or an performances and despite its obvious success was a financial disaster for Ned Lathom who overspent On December 16th, Noël’s Birthday, every year without fail I historic temple, the “chaps” always have a hoot!! This last visit on every aspect of the show including asking Molyneux to design and produce the dresses for the re-read Pomp and Circumstance. Set on the island of Samola, saw us travelling home in a charabanc of a bus while the “chaps” chorus at a cost of a £1,000 a time! In this photograph - probably the sketch Rain Before Seven or a there are many similarities in the novel with Sri Lanka and found a tape recorder and blasted out their Sri Lankan disco specially staged promotional pose the two young stars, Gertie at this point well-established as a oblique references. Griezel receives a letter from her mother in beats, literally dancing in the aisles, clinging to any bit of metal Charlot revue star and Noël still at the beginning of his career, and not quite trusted to write a full England regarding “A weird tropical virus”(actually Chicken available! Totally unsafe but totally groovy!! Noël’s work for the revue unaccompanied (Ronald Jeans was the safety-net!) - look simply stunning! Pox) contracted by Griezel’s house guest, Eloise, the Duchess of Actors Orphanage inspires us. The Island, or at least Colombo, TONIGHT AT 8:30 Fowey. is getting a lot more cosmopolitan. Old cultures and traditions Graham Payn, and “How tiresome of that silly woman to get a tropical disease such as arranged marriages are being called into question. Noël rehearsing for the 1947/1948 in the first place and how idiotic of the doctors out there not to Homosexuality is also being asserted (still illegal under old revival of Tonight at 8:30. The know what it is. I expect they’re all lazy and behind the times British rule and an act that has never been repealed) it is seldom production toured Baltimore, Boston, like that dreadful Indian with a high voice that poor Lavinia had spoken of but accepted “as long as it doesn’t frighten the Philadelphia, San Francisco and Los in Ceylon who gave her nothing but rice and garlic and nearly horses!” June 2008, the very first Gay Pride was held on Mount Angeles before appearing at The killed her.” Lavinia Beach. We were very proud to be invited (bought the National Theatre in New York. These Noël used ‘Samola’ most notably on stage in Pacific 1860 caps and notelets!) and although Noël was very definite in his two photographs come from the and South sea Bubble. He and Cole Lesley spending much time views about being “out”, as the sun sank over the Indian Ocean December 1947 edition of Life working out the geography, the people, the political bias etc, Dinah Washington started singing “Mad About The Boy.” The magazine and were sent in by NCS down to the last detail. My belief is that ‘Samola” is a party wasn’t over. It is just beginning. member Douglas Gordon. combination of wishful thinking, with the added knowledge of Philip Leather Page 8 Page 5 Part 4 the story continues with edited extracts from the memories of Granville Bantock who attended the LUCKY ORPHAN Roosevelt and Chaplin Actor’s Orphanage at Langley Hall and Silverlands and during its evacuation to America in World War II. e very much enjoyed out first Halloween party the variety of scouting tests. For those interested there were special possibilities. Here then were twenty children in a strange environment approached me and asked, “Are you playing hookey” “No,” I and Thanksgiving Day celebration, events not scout camps available throughout the Summer. I must have enjoyed it who had been asked to make such an important decisions in one replied, “I’m just watching the animals.” “Should you be at celebrated in England. My sponsor Margaret because I still have my Siwanoy camp certificate showing that I morning. Noël Coward and the Actors’ Orphanage committee had school?” He asked, “Yes’” I replied. “Then you are playing Webster came to see me before Christmas and passed all the tests. provided for some sixty children at Silverlands - an environment hookey,” he said. “Do you mean truant?” I asked. “No I mean Wasked what present I would like. Without any There was very little socialising with our girls, apart from close second to none. We had everything, we were spoiled and we did not hookey.” This went back and forth for a while, eventually idea how much it might cost, I asked for either a camera or a contact on the morning bus to school. Jenny and I had grown up know how children outside were treated or educated and nor did we explaining that I wash from England and feeling a little fed up. small radio set. She had come to the Foundation with Maurice together for the last eleven years, but there was no kissing and want to. This was brought home to me when one day at high school He turned out to be a nice guy, buying me a cup of coffee and a Evans who was a leading Shakespearean actor on the New York cuddling. Maggie too was always around but nothing was gelling the English teacher asked me to the front of the class to talk about the doughnut. I spent hours in the zoo, enjoying the break from stage at the time. I was to see one of the productions in the New with us. I was now fifteen but maturing slowly, although my education system in Britain, particularly about the public schools classes. Back at school I was pleased to have been selected for a Year. Whenever actors or actresses sponsoring a child were American friend, Mary Ann, was my current number one and we which fascinated the Americans. I had to say that I knew absolutely softball team. Softball, a more gentle form of baseball, could be appearing on the New York stage they would come and see us. I were to attend many more concerts to which some of the other nothing; since the age of four and a half I had been in an orphanage, played on a hard surface which was just as well for there were had enjoyed seeing the glamorous ladies at Langley hall, and English children supported no green fields at Christopher Columbus High. now, at the Edwin Gould Foundation there was even more. went as well. Almost What has happened to the Actors’ Orphanage? by actors A kindly American took a small party of English boys on a It was Christmas 1940 and there was no good news: England all the English kids Robert Ashby the General Secretary of The Actors’ Charitable Trust says: and trip downtown, the highlight being a visit to the top of the was alone but America was helping, thanks to President at high school had actresses Empire State Building, then the tallest in the World. It was a Roosevelt. Under the Christmas tree were three presents for me, made American “We're still going strong as the Actors' Charitable Trust. Here are a who gave clear day and we could see a huge pall of smoke rising from one a wallet from my mother, a camera from Margaret Webster and friends so there was couple of facts about Noël and the trust: In 1928 Noël joined the much time of the ocean liners in the docks below. We descended and piled a radio set from Dame May Witty. I couldn’t believe my luck a good deal of social to raising into the car, rushing to the docks and getting a very close to the and went straight to my desk to write letters. I could not have activity at the Executive Committee and was President between 1934 and 1956. He funds from burning ship; it was the enormous French liner, Normandie. I received better gifts; they gave me so much pleasure then and I Foundation. It was a appointed Laurence Olivier as his successor, with Richard Attenborough the public. felt really sick; France was overrun and now that magnificent still have the wallet to this day. The Gould Foundation did time of happy as Chairman (a new role), with the understanding that Dickie I had no symbol of Free France was keeling over under the weight of everything possible to make our Christmas a happy one and I integration for both Attenborough would do all the work and Olivier could be simply a idea how water from firefighting hose. am sure we all appreciated the generosity we were shown. boys and girls. figurehead. Today, Lord Attenborough is still in charge (as President) ordinary Much later the beautiful ship was raised and towed away as New Year 1941 was very cold and there was not a glimmer I very much children scrap; we hoped a similar fate would not befall the two huge of hope on the horizon. It was looking very black for England missed the open and we are helping 175 children of actors.” were British liners, The Queen Mary and The Queen Elizabeth, both with just twenty miles of sea keeping the German Army from space we had at educated, now in their wartime coats of grey paint. Their services in the her shores, and here I was in marvellous New York. I was Silverlands - and my ad as far as years to come ferrying American troops to England would be enjoying high school in spite of some verbal bullying such as ‘ bike especially - but the public invaluable. “Go home Limey,” written on the blackboards, but nothing the Americans were schools The 30 or so younger English children were being educated worse happened and my two friends more than made up for it. so kind and were at the Foundation and judging by the help we older children Mick would help me with my maths and we enjoyed each generous, making up concerned, received from the same teachers during evening homework, the other’s company. There was Mary Ann too. Early in the New for the loss. Early in my entire standard was high. Just before Easter 1941, mumps broke out Year she asked me if I liked classical music and I replied that the New Year, knowledge and I and many other kids became infected. The sanatorium was indeed I did. She invited me to a matinee concert at Carnegie Margaret Webster rested on very well equipped and during my isolation I learned to play Hall on the following Saturday saying that her father, who had a arranged for me to one cricket chess - I was not very good but I enjoyed it nevertheless. position at the hall, would take us. My first concert with my first spend a day with game and Maggie developed mumps as well and she was put in the next American girlfriend - I couldn’t wait until Saturday. Her father her, first at the tea at Eton room but the urge to kiss and cuddle as we had done at Langley came to the Foundation for me and together with Mary Ann we theatre where she College. Hall six years earlier did not arise. In spite of their being a large set off for Carnegie Hall. Toscanini wash conducting the NCB was directing, and The number of American children at the Foundation, we did not Symphony Orchestra and their main work was Beethoven’s then at her often mix and looking back now I still do not know why. Fifth Symphony. At the end I had goose pimples all over and apartment, returning A bedroom at Edwin Gould - note the photo of Winston Churchill, the Union Jack and After Easter the swimming pool opened. This was a great was inwardly shaking and my heart racing. This was it - I was again to the theatre other reminders of home. Here also are some of the English boys. amenity especially when the weather became hot which, in New hooked for ever. We went to a diner but I couldn’t eat; the music for a performance York, it jolly well did. It was fun to ogle the girls in their would not go away. Mary Ann was quiet too. I was taken back followed by a quiet meal with some of the cast. I was overwhelmed comprehensive education system in New York appeared to be the bathing costumes, watching them develop, but there was no real to the Foundation where I rushed to the radio in my room and by it all and glowing with contentment when, very late, I was taken perfect solution all round - it worked very well. stirrings of sexual excitement. I suppose that having grown up twiddled the knob hoping to find more Beethoven, but there was back to the Foundation. I cannot recall the exact date when Charlie Chaplin came to see together from being tiny tots it was all a matter of routine; only Glenn Miller. My brother Paul wrote to tell me that he would be training for his us, telling us that he had arranged for us to see his latest film, The Jenny, Maggie and the others were just friends. The Summer A church at nearby Pelham took all 54 Actors’ Orphanage wings with the RAF in Canada later in the year and that he would be Great Dictator, which had just been premiered. We were bussed to a coming in was extremely hot and the pool was a welcome relief children under its wing and the Foundation would take us there coming to see us before returning to England. This was really huge cinema and assembled in the foyer where we were asked to sing, after school. very early every Sunday morning. The services were far more something to look forward to and of course his girlfriend carol was ‘There’ll Always Be An England.’ I was a little embarrassed by this, News broke that Germany had invaded Russia. There was cheerful than the dreary ones at Silverlands local parish church, excited as well. I was enjoying school but somehow I felt I had made but thoroughly enjoyed the film. At about the same time Boris Karloff now no way that Hitler would win this war and the heat was and when we finished, we would all sit down to a sumptuous a bad decision with my chosen subjects, but it was too late to make was starring in Arsenic and Old Lace and he too arranged for us to taken off England, an invasion across The Channel seemed most breakfast. any changes. It had all happened too quickly; not enough time had see the play, entertaining us afterwards with tea behind the stage. He unlikely. The head gardener at Silverlands could put away his The young ladies in the choir were very kind, taking some of been allowed to study the American education system. Certainly the was absolutely charming and did not frighten me one bit. pitchfork. President Roosevelt and Winston Churchill were us out on sight-seeing trips in the afternoons; it seemed like one high school authorities could not possibly have imagined what the There were no other English children in any of my classes; not great friends and a mighty alliance was being set up; thank God big happy family. Affiliated to the church was a scout group, so Actors’ Orphanage was really like; just 70 children in a huge country surprising really, since there were only twenty of us amongst six for President Roosevelt, a true friend of Britain. all the English boys formed into a special ‘patrol’, with the house meant only twelve or so to a class for one thing, and having thousand Americans. The verbal bullying would sometimes get me church providing uniforms and other necessary equipment. The vast grounds and countryside in which to play for another. We should down in class, with ‘Limey’ this and ‘Limey’ that, but there was never Next time. . . Camp on Long Island and an invitation to go Foundation bus would take us one evening each week to the have had more time to adjust to Christopher Columbus High School any rough stuff. I remember one day deciding to skip school and go to to Washington from a personal friend of President Roosevelt! church hall where we received , instruction enabling us to pass and its surroundings before deciding upon a curriculum and all its the Bronx Zoo instead. While watching the lions a friendly keeper Page 7 Page 6