HOME CHAT February 2000 the Newsletter of the Noël Coward Society
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
HOME CHAT February 2000 The Newsletter of The Noël Coward Society The Sale of the Contents of Firefly Hello, I guess all of us feel upset at the reported sale of the contents of First I must say thank you for all Firefly. In a perfect world the house and its contents would be your kind words on the first newsletter. left as a museum, a tribute to Noël Coward and a focus for our Also, for the wonderful support. Many interest. However, we do not live in a perfect world. of you have contributed to this edition of When Coward died, Firefly was inherited by Graham Payn. He Home Chat, so much of my work has been copy typing. generously gave it to the Jamaican Government and into the care of the Jamaican National Trust. Unfortunately, they did I’ve been spending my time typing up not have the money to maintain it properly, and in a climate that mailing lists of theatres and art centres destroys fabrics, furnishing and artefacts, it fell into disrepair. Then along came a white knight in the form of Chris Blackwell, where we might recruit more members. More members means more income to the son of Noel’s friend Blanche Blackwell. He leased the house, along with Goldeneye (Ian Fleming’s Jamaican home, allow us to do some of the things we want where he wrote many of the James Bond books). He lavished to do, and more events for you to choose money and care on the house, restoring it to its former glory from. Nobody can be expected to and putting it into a proper condition as a museum. attend every event (unless they want to) Unfortunately, it does not attract the paying visitors it needs to but a big membership means that we provide the money for its continuing upkeep. The tourist hotels should be able to run a variety of events in Jamaica tend to be self-contained resort style, they do not successfully. encourage visitors to go site seeing, and certainly not off the beaten track to find the specialist interests like Firefly. I think I have made great strides in advertising the Society in the UK, Continued Page 2 but I do need some help for USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In those territories, does anybody know of a good reference book to the addresses of theatres, amateur theatre companies, art centres etc where we might attract some membership? Gareth HOME CHAT February 2000 Page 1 Firefly Sale – Continued from Page 1 Society Meeting Further, the relentless Jamaican climate continues its damage with the paintings, books and furnishings. Some of the The Society held an informal meeting nd paintings will soon not be fit for viewing unless something is at The Antelope Pub on the 2 done to protect them. And, of course, there are high crime rates February. in Jamaica, and the contents of Firefly could be an attractive target for thieves. A number of members came along, just to have a drink, meet each other and to chat. We found the main bar a little So, what is Chris Backwell to do? Well, it seems sense to too crowded, so we quickly arranged restructure the whole use and presentation to attract more with the landlord to overspill into an visitors, to use it with the Goldeneye complex, and to sell off upstairs room where we could chat some of the contents to people who will appreciate them, happily. replacing some of them with good copies. I know that he has I was surprised how close the bar was taken a lot of advice and talked to Graham Payn about the future of Firefly. to Coward’s stage directions in Peace in Our Time, it only took a little imagination to project the pub onto the On behalf of us all, I have been in touch with Chris Blackwell’s stage of the Lyric Theatre in 1947. company, and I have their assurances on some critical points: Equally it was easy to imagine Noël dropping by for a drink in the 1940’s First, Firefly and Noël Coward’s grave will continue to be and 50’s, a cosy pub only a short walk available for any of us to visit. from his own home in Gerald Road, or his mother’s flat in Eaton Square. Second, Sotheby’s will handle the sale of the items. We were joined by three special guests: First and foremost, Mrs Joan Third, that the Society will be allowed to see what is on offer Hirst, originally the assistant to Lorn before the general public and be able to place an early bid. Lorraine and still the Coward Estate’s secretary in London. Marcy Kahan, a Back to my opening sentiment. I wish this was not necessary, playwright and Coward devotee, who but I cannot think of a better alternative. And, at least we have had recently had her play “Design for secured some privileged opportunity to ensure that some of the Murder” broadcast by the BBC came items will come to loving homes with some members. along. Her play has Noël; Lorn GCP Lorraine; Cole Lesley and Clemence Dane as its main characters. And a very good play it was too. I am www.noelcoward.co.uk delighted to say that Marcy has now joined the Society. I am ever hopeful, as she told me that there was talk of The Society has inherited the Noël Coward website from the her writing another Coward based Centenary Committee. radio play to follow up her success One of our members, John Hunter Knowles, has taken it over as our (Present Slaughter? Private Deaths?) web master, and he is starting to make some changes as it moves And then Steve Ross, the doyen of from being an information site for the Centenary Celebrations to cabaret entertainers of New York and being our site. London dropped by for a drink and a Initially, it will be re-organised to give basic biographical details of chat. Coward for the passing browser. Then some guide (advertisement) as to how to join the society and, of course a diary of events and All too soon a couple of hours had production news. flown by, and Robert Gardiner It will also give a guide to the published books that may help anyone whisked me off to listen to Steve Ross interested in Noël. From there we can build it into something even in cabaret at Pizza on the Park. more advanced and helpful. GCP HOME CHAT February 2000 Page 2 Hay Fever in the Midst of Winter Rehearsing - From Lesley & Laurie Gimbrett Brief Lesley and I became devotees of Noël Coward about five years ago. Encounter During that time our main interest was colle cting his wonderful songs and music on 30 CD’s and LP’s when we could find them. We have also amassed a A new play by Phil Smith large book collection. I came across this new play Last year was ecstasy for us as Noël’s Centenary Celebration allowed us to see from the Oxford Touring many of his plays and musicals that up until then we had only read about. Theatre Company. I haven’t seen it yet myself, but I thought As the year drew to a close with the wonderful Savoy Gala and finally the it might be of interest to members: weekend before Christmas ‘Relative Values’ at the Hampton Hill Playhouse (near Waldergrave Road, Teddington, Middlesex – not far from the border of To quote from their publicity Surrey) where a few days earlier Sir John Mills had unveiled a huge portrait of blurb: Noël, commissioned for his centenary and proudly displayed in their Coward An actress and a director meet Room (Actually, Sir John couldn’t make it on the night, he was unwell – so the for the first time. They are to portrait was unveiled by his daughter Hayley – who is a patron the that rehearse a play of that classic theatre’s appeal fund – gcp). film ‘Brief Encounter’. She has done a soap and known some We now thought we would be starved of Noëly entertainment, but after fame. He is young, aspiring Christmas the postman delivered news that Newpalm Productions were and hopeful. The Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson presenting ‘Hay Fever’ at the Civic Theatre, Chelmsford in late January. love story lights the blue touch paper and suddenly the two We were a little apprehensive, as we had seen the Declan Donnellan production unsuspecting people are at the Savoy with Geraldine McEwan. It was a bizarre interpretation with the rocketed into the stratosphere play starting very confusingly with the Victorian melodrama 1Love’s of love. But, for the Howard Whirlwind’ and ending with all the cast coming back onto the stage to sing ‘Tea and Johnson doubles, the for Two’! fireworks are just about to start! They, too, are not free to Happily there was no need for our fears as the Newpalm Production was well love… presented, well acted and delightfully funny. Performances: Up to 18th March in various This ‘Winsomely1 comedy of bad manners was centered around the halls and theatres around dysfunctional Bliss family. A couple of our favourite scenes were in the second Oxfordshire. Then it has a act where the ill-fated guests lack of role -playing talent was mercilessly and short UK tour: comically exposed and hilarious to watch. In a later scene Judith Bliss and the 20/03 – Eastbourne bemused guest Richard Greatham were alone in the room Judith had been 21/03 – Otford, Kent playing the piano and singing a French song and was utterly enchanting to 22/03 – West Malling Greatham who momentarily captivated by her charm kisses the nape of her 23-26/03 – Mansfield neck.