In the UK... Ashcroft Arts Centre Fareham Home Chat is the newsletter February 2007 01329 310600 of The Noël Coward Society FREE TO The Vortex - Will Young - The Royal Tue 5th June 2.30pm wholly owned by MEMBERS OF Exchange Theatre to March 10 2007. Norwich City College, Norwich Noël Coward Ltd. which is THE SOCIETY Tickets are available on 0161 615 6815 01603 773582 part of the charitable trust: Price £2 ($4) or 0161 833 9833 Wed 6th June 7.30pm The Noël Coward Foundation. CHAT Hay Fever Kings Theatre Southsea FEBRUARY 2007 - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE NOËL COWARD SOCIETY Unless otherwise stated all Bill Kenwright Ltd 023 9282 8282 images and text are copyright UK Tour 5 Feb to 18 Jun Thu 7th June TBC to NC Aventales AG Private Lives The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury All correspondence to: 19 to 27 Feb 2007 - The Bancroft Play- 01295 279002 The Noël Coward Society, ers, The Queen Mother Theatre, Hitchin, Sat 9th June 8.00pm 29 Waldemar Avenue, Hertfordshire West End Centre, Aldershot Hellesdon, Norwich, The Seven Stages of Love 01252 330040 NR6 6TB, UK 14 Feb - At the Wigmore Hall, Gillian Blithe Spirit [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 1603 486 188 Keith Iestyn Davies, Andrew Kennedy, 25 to 28 Apr 2007 - Knutsford Little The- Photo by Alma Robinson Photo by The King’s Consort and Robert King - a atre, Knutsford, Cheshire Editor: John Knowles concert for Valentine’s Day - includes Hands Across The Sea Assistant Editor: Honour The Master arrangements of Noël Coward songs 26 to 28 Apr - Portishead Players, The Ken Starrett ome things never change - thank goodness! The Blithe Spirit Somerset Hall, Portishead, Bristol Publication and Distribution: hustle and bustle of the Christmas crowds in New 13 to 16 Feb - St Edwards College DS, St Stephen Greenman (UK) July and August 2007 York and as NCS members gather for the Edwards College, Liverpool Ken Starrett (US) Hay Fever annual flower-laying celebrations of Coward’s 21 to 24 Feb - Emley Drama Group, Music Correspondent: 18 to 21 Jul - Runnymede Drama Group, Sbirth mark a welcome part of the annual round of activity. Emley Methodist Church Hall, Emley, Dominic Vlasto The Riverside Barn, Walton-On-Thames, This year two gracious ladies of performed our an- Huddersfield Surrey Contributions are invited from nual act of respect for the ultimate theatre Master at Gersh- March 2007 Private Lives members of the Society. win Theater’s Hall of Fame and the Theatre Royal, Drury The Vortex - Will Young - The Royal Jill Freud & Co The editor reserves the right Lane. In New York Kitty Carlisle Hart was the honoured Exchange Theatre to March 10 2007. 28 Aug to 1 Sep - Aldeburgh Summer The- to edit all copy, images and guest and in London, Anna Massey. Tickets are available on 0161 615 6815 atre decide on inclusion of items. In a speech that re- or 0161 833 9833 Details included in 6 to 15 Sep - Southwold Summer Theatre flected many of the rec- Hay Fever ‘What’s On?’ are as received, ollections of Noël in her 5 Feb to 18 Jun - Bill Kenwright Ltd with our thanks, from: In North America... recent book Anna re- UK Tour February and March 2007 Samuel French UK and Canada (Play Publishers and called asking him about Relative Values Waiting In The Wings Author’s Representatives), any superstitions he had 13 Mar to 1 Apr - Showdon’ttell, Green- 28 Feb to 17 Mar, 2007 - Victoria Theatre Ken Starrett (US), “Well I only have one,” wich Playhouse Guild, Langham Court Thtre, Victoria, BC Alan Brodie Representation he responded, “never Still Life 30 Mar to 8 Apr, 2007-Little Theatre of (Professional Productions), have 13 in a bed!”. She 2 Mar - After Dark Theatre Company, New Smyrna Beach, Florida NCS members and also recalled an invita- The Train Station, Carnforth, Lancashire theatre companies. Blithe Spirit tion to Les Avants and (Where the station scenes of the film Brief 16 Feb to 18 Mar - Central Alberta Thtr his kindness to her when Encounter were shot) For details of rights for Soc Red Deer, Alberta her first marriage to Je- Hay Fever Fallen Angels professional productions: - for a full list see www.noëlcoward.net Items in red are professional companies - for a full list see www.noëlcoward.net Alan Brodie Representation remy Brett came to an 21 to 24 Mar - Guilsborough Music & 20 Mar to 7 Apr - Ottowa Little Theatre, www.alanbrodie.com end. She said Noël took

Drama Society. Village Hall, Guilsbor- Photo by Patti Dey Ottawa, Ontario For amateur productions her off quietly into an- ough, Northamptonshire Shadow Play Samuel French Ltd. other room and told her that she was not to regard herself as April to June 2007 Food For Thought at The Players Club, lo- www.samuelfrench.com or a failure as a person just because this had happened. Kitty Carlisle Hart with Barry Day at the Gershwin, Theater Hay Fever cated at 16 Gramercy Park South, New www.samuelfrench- Earlier at the Society’s Annual General Meeting NCS Hall of Fame and Anna Massey at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane 5 Feb to 18 Jun - Bill Kenwright Ltd York City Call 212/362-2560 Two per- london.co.uk member, Douglas Gordon, presented the Society with the spectacle involving hundreds of in-line skaters seasonally at- UK Tour formances on March 26 and April 12 For publishing rights: original sketch, by Edward Molyneux, of the fan-tail dress he tired creating good-natured havoc on London’s West End 29 Jun to 7 Jul - Hever Lakeside Theatre May and June 2007 Methuen designed for to wear in the original pro- streets. Private Lives Blithe Spirit www.methuen.co.uk For music rights: duction of Private Lives. The sketch is framed, with details Ken Starrett reports on celebrations in New York... Bruce James Productions 4 to 27 May, 2007 - Mount Dora Theatre Warner Chappell of its provenance and also has a plaque saying “Presented to December in New York means, the chill of winter, 17 to 2 Apr - Pomegranate Theatre, Company, Florida www.warnerchappell.co.uk the Noël Coward Society at the AGM on 16th December, bustling shoppers and the city dressed in all its spectacular Chesterfield 1 to 16 Jun - Theatre Aurora, Aurora, 2006, by Douglas Gordon.” holiday finery. It also means a time when members of the 25 to 27 Apr - Princess Theatre, Hunstan- Ontario Officers of the Society are: On the way home some of us caught the spectacular sight Noël Coward Society gather to celebrate The Master’s birth- ton 22 May to Jun 2 - Kanata Thtr, Kanata, Chairman: Barbara Longford of SantaSkate 2006 an annual fund-raising street-skating day. In honor of the occasion this past December, members 16 to 19 May - Octagon Theatre, Bolton Ontario Secretary: John Knowles Cowardy Custard Tour August 2007 Treasurer: Stephen Greenman Wed 30th May 7.30pm Bitter Sweet The Maltings, St Albans 01727 844222 18 to 26 Aug, 2007 Light Opera Works – Public Relations: Jan Penn North American Director: Thu 31st May 7.30pm Illinois Music Theatre Cahn Auditorium, Ken Starrett Arlington Arts Centre, Newbury Evanston, IllinoisCall 845/869-6300 or w ce Representative for France: n ith an ! 01635 244246 www.LightOperaWorks.com D Hélène Catsiapis t WHAT’S ON? WHAT’S O he Fri 1st June 8.00pm for the latest developments on this prestigious event see pages 6 and 7 Page 12 traveled from California, Florida, Pennsylvania and Con- notch musical direction by Dennis Buck. The star-studded necticut to join New Yorkers for three days of festivities. evening began with Ms. Sullivan, joined by Jeff Harnar and On Saturday, December 9th, more than 100 members and Craig Rubano, inviting us to ‘Sail Away’. Exciting musical NEWS AND EVENTS their guests attended a special screening at The Museum of highlights that followed included Mr. Harnar's haunting ren- BC Radio 4 will be devoting the last two Saturday theatre, Barbara and Graham Sawyer are planning a walking Television & Radio. They were treated to a showing for the dition of ‘Matelot’ and Craig Rubano's sparkling ‘Nina’. We afternoons in March 2007 to Marcy Kahan's biog- tour of the UK’s Great White Way ending with coffee - at first time of Noël Coward’s Home Movies taken from 1929 were moved by ‘London Pride’ in the hands of Steve Ross, raphical comedies about Noël Coward: about £1 a head could be our best value event to date! Details to 1932. The next item seen was The Show from while Sian Phillips made a deliciously comic visit to ‘A Bar On Saturday, 24th March 2007 at 2:30 p.m. and an invitation to express your interest will appear in the 1968 in which Coward and Frost engaged in an hour-long in- On the Piccola Marina’. KT Sullivan's bright, effervescent B there will be another chance to hear 's production April edition of this, Noël’s favourite journal! terview. A clip from the famous1970 Dick Cavett Show was ‘World Weary’ was a true delight. Coward's dramatic works of Death At the Desert Inn: A Highly Probable Noël Coward shown to pay tribute to a special guest in the audience – a re- were by no means ignored. Marian Seldes gave us a sharply Murder Mystery. markable lady from the world of Noël Coward – Tammy sensitive ‘Epitaph for an Elderly Actress’. Matthew Cowles Starring Malcolm Sinclair as Coward, Eleanor Bron as Promotional Items Grimes. She and Brian Bedford were seen singing a medley nostalgically told us of ‘The Boy Actor’ and when joined by Lorn Loraine, Tam Williams as Cole Lesley, Belinda Lang as The Society is currently looking at a range of promotional of Noël Coward‘s songs. Following the screening, a recep- Christine Baranski, charmed us all in a scene from Private Judy Garland and in what was sadly his last radio drama per- items that may be of interest to members. Those under con- tion was held giving members the chance to enjoy tea and so- Lives. Julie Wilson's heartfelt ‘Mad About the Boy’ will be formance, the late William Hootkins as Baby-Face Puccini. sideration at the moment are: glasses and coffee mugs en- cial chit chat. long remembered A tender and touching version of ‘I'll See On Saturday, 31st March 2007 at 2:30 p.m. R4 will broad- graved/printed with a Coward photograph and inscription. On Sun- You Again’ by Tammy Grimes brought this memorable cast the premiere of the fifth and final play in Marcy's quintet: Coasters, place mats and mouse mats with a Coward photo- day, Decem- evening to a close. This occasion marked the end of Our Man in Jamaica: A Highly Probable Noël Coward Espi- graph and inscription. A Coward diary for 2008 containing ber 10th, three days of celebrating Sir Noël Coward with many onage Adventure. Directed by Gordon House. Starring, we the ideas provided by Ken Starrett in his gift to members at- members treats to satisfy both Society Members and Coward fans hope, the usual suspects. The play is set in Jamaica 1962. The tending the birthday lunch this year. We currently stock gathered in .... we couldn't have liked it more. cast list includes Coward's devoted neighbour, Ian Fleming, greetings cards for Christmas and other occasions and have the Theatre and his devoted friend, Marlene Dietrich. flyers for inserting into theatre programmes as well as a se- Hall of Fame Barbara Longford reports on the celebrations at You can listen again to each play on the Web 7 days after lection of texts and advertisments for printing in theatre pro- at the Gersh- The Ivy Restaurant, London... its Saturday broadcast at www..co.uk/R4 - click on Drama grammes and journals. win Theatre Geoffrey Skinner, who had arranged the lunch for - The Saturday Play. for the annual us, and Chairman, Barbara Longford were waiting in Coward Print occasion of a the elegant private room on the upstairs floor at The Ivy guest when our Guests of Honour, Anna Massey and her hus- Upcoming Events in New York City Cameron Mackintosh has announced the production of a lim- celebrity band, Uri Andres, arrived, followed by about sixty Every year the 92nd Street Y presents a series called ited edition caricature of Novello, Coward and Gielgud by placing flow- members and guests. We had some pre-lunch drinks so Lyrics & Lyricists. Included this year is a special program Clive Francis. There are 500 signed and numbered copies ers on the Ken Starrett and Tammy Grimes that members could be introduced and photographs called Noël Coward and His Ladies created by Barry Day and selling at £25.00 each that we think would make fun gifts. statue of Noël were taken, particularly of Anna with the framed design Steve Ross. Known today as an actor, playwright and caustic They can be seen on the Clive Francis Print page on the Del- Coward. This year, our most honored guest was the amazing by Edward Molyneux of the dress which Gertrude Lawrence wit, Noël Coward was also a lyricist and composer of ex- font Mackintosh website which is now up and running at: Kitty Carlisle Hart. Her varied career has found her starring wore in the first production of Private Lives. This had been traordinary depth. This show featuring Patricia Hodge, http://www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/book/CliveFrancis- in films, on Broadway, at the Metropolitan Opera and on presented to the Society at the AGM earlier in the day, by Maude Maggart, Klea Blackhurst, and Nancy Anderson, pays Print.php. many popular television shows. She spent 20 years as the member Douglas Gordon, who had acquired it from tribute in song to the remarkable ladies who crossed The Jermyn Street Theatre head of the New York State Council of the Arts and at age 96 Molyneux’s nephew. Anna’s mother, Adrienne Allen, played Master’s path – Gertrude Lawrence, Bea Lillie, Yvonne Print- There is a festival of treats at Jermyn St. this month with this most gracious lady still maintains a busy schedule mak- alongside Laurence Olivier in the first production of the play. emps, and Mary Martin ... not to mention Mrs. Worthington Steve Ross and Gregory Moore on the 18th of February ing cabaret appearances. Her husband was famed author and When members were seated, Barbara opened the pro- and Mrs. Wentworth Brewster. 7:30pm, performing a musical tribute to Arthur "The Street director, Moss Hart whose large body of work in- ceedings by welcoming This production will be presented on Saturday, June 2nd Singer" Tracy. Plus four weeks of cabaret featuring: cluded creating Lady in the Dark for Gertrude everyone to the 6th An- at 8:00 pm, Sunday June 3rd at 3:00 and 8:00 pm and on Tues 6th - Sun 11th Feb - Andrea Marcovicci performs Frank Lawrence. Moss Hart and Kitty Carlisle knew Noël nual Luncheon of The Monday, June 4th at 2:00 and 8:00 pm. Because this popular Loesser • Tue 13th - Sun 18th Feb - Steve Ross performs Coward for many years. She spoke of their close Noël Coward Society. series is heavily subscribed, there are a limited number of Sondheim • Tues 20th - Sun 25th Feb - Maude Maggart per- friendship. We are delighted, she seats available to the general public. forms Irving Berlin • Tues 27th Feb - Sun 4th Mar - Jeff As in past years, the flower-laying ceremony was said, that Anna Massey Early purchase is advised. For ticket information, call Harnar performs Cole Porter. followed by a luncheon at the nearby Manhattan Club. and her husband are join- 212/415-5500 or visit www.92Y.org/lyrics. Events of the afternoon included the showing of a film ing us today as our Guests One of Noël Coward’s remarkable ladies, Tammy Grimes, called Rooms with a View. This gave us a nice chance of Honour. “This is par- will be remembered for her wonderful portrayal of Elvira in to see Noël Coward's home at Les Avants in Switzer- ticularly appropriate as High Spirits and her Tony Award-winning performance as land. A delightful musical entertainment was pre- Sir Noël was a good Amanda in Private Lives. She will soon be appearing in a sented by Anna Bergman and Steve Ross. His friend to Anna and her new cabaret act -- Miss Tammy Grimes -- at the elegant Met- ropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, New York City. Per- sophisticated rendering of ‘I Travel Alone’ started the Anna Bergman family, whereas most of program. We heard Anna's beautiful soprano voice in us, although we feel as if formances are April 4th at 9:00 pm, April 5th at 8:00 pm and a lovely medley which included ‘A Room with a View’, we know him rather well, never actually met The Master. We April 12th at 8:00 pm. For reservations and information, call ‘Someday I'll Find You’ and ‘I'll Follow My Secret Heart’. also welcome Joyce Breach , from New York and her accom- the Metropolitan Room at 212/206-0440. Anna and Steve led the audience in singing ‘I'll See You panist, John Pearce. On the Society visit to New York last Again’ - the perfect way to end the day. December, many of us heard Joyce sing for the first time, at Upcoming Events in the UK A NOEL COWARD CABARET Danny’s on West 46th Street. We rushed to buy her CDs and News of our UK event in March at the University of Birm- One year ago a gala event at the Algonquin Hotel was we are delighted Joyce, that you have accepted our invitation ingham is shown in our centre-spread. Watch this space for held to announce the opening of the Noël Coward suite. On to sing for us today. early news of two possible future events. Your interest will that evening a cabaret performance celebrated the Master's Welcome too, to our distinguished Vice Presidents, Sheri- decide their fate! Firstly a Coward Weekend at Burgh Island. words and music. This year on Monday, December 11th, his- dan Morley and Barry Day and to our newly appointed Rep- Barbara Longford is putting together a possible package for a tory was repeated. In the famed Oak Room, Production Co- resentative for France – Hélène Catsiapis, from Paris. Every step back in time to when this famously romantic isolated ordinator Barbara McGurn and her staff presented an Annual year, on the Saturday nearest to Sir Noël’s birthday, we meet hotel entertained Sir Noël. Noël Coward Cabaret, put together by KT Sullivan with top- for the flower-laying ceremony, followed by lunch at a West For those with an interest in the history of the West End Page 2 Page 11 End restaurant which Noël frequented. This year the event and secret sides to them. “ Of course”, boomed Miss Dane, falls on Sir Noël’s actual birthday and he would have been “the five John Thomases!”. Noël reported in his next letter Conversation Piece - our editor’s timely threnody! 107 today.” home – “This, naturally enough, reduced the five John Vice President, Barry Day, then gave the toast. Thomases present to dreadful ill-concealed hysteria. Binkie irst of all an apology to all those who have given somewhat later in the first scene, and the first version does The Toast to Noël – by Barry Day choked, great round tears coursed down Coley’s face and I me material over the past year that I have failed to not include the scene in which persuades the rest “When Lord Mountbatten toasted Noël on his 70th birth- talked very, very loudly about something quite different.” use - somehow the current agenda has always of the Warple family to pretend to be dogs. Otherwise the day, he read what was virtually a He never quite got the robbed us of the space that was traditionally set final version of the play is merely an expanded and improved F variation of the original. laundry list of his talents. He said, best of Ivor Novello either. aside for highlighting past glories or historic tracts about our in effect that there might be better After a show Noël would in- hero! So with a little trepidation I now venture into the folder It is certainly an amusing play, and one that is extremly interesting when considered in the context of Coward’s later singers, dancers, actors, directors, variably go back stage. If he of delights that has lain unopened for so long on the only work; the witty bickering of the Warple family has echoes of painters, etc. etc. – but they would hadn’t particularly enjoyed it, clear space in the office, my desk. A second apology is ‘Hay Fever’, and there can surely be little doubt that the have been four different people. he’d developed a foolproof needed here as well as I have not always noted who has sent séance in ‘Weatherwise’ inspired ‘Blithe Spirit’. Those critics There is only one Noël Coward and stratagem to handle the in- what. So please be kind and allow me to share some of the who were to sneer at Coward for being out of date and old- he combines the attributes of all evitable question – “What did highlights of the 100 or so pieces that I have collected from fashioned might well have been surprised by ‘Weatherwise’ - fourteen.” He could have added a you think?” He would say – you and forgive the occasional lack of a byline should there the plot’s, particularly startling conclusion, has many of the few more that have come to light. Alma Robinson Photo by turning it into several words – be any. So let me begin on this timely elements of the Theatre of the Absurd, pre- Female impersonator, for instance. “un – be – lieve – able”. He lament for my past neglect. dating Ionesco and Beckett by a good twenty In his teens at a family party out in undoubtedly had it on the tip Lance Salway has been in touch with years or so. the country, Noël dressed up as a of his tongue after the first Barry Day and myself about some early per- I was not at all surprised to discover girl for a bet. A young man at the night of Ivor’s ‘King’s Rhap- formances and versions of Coward plays from a quick trawl of the Internet that ‘Weatherwise’ has been frequently been per- party suggested they take a stroll in sody’ – one of what Noël con- that are not always noted in the existing formed by amateur companies over the the garden. The young man became sidered Ivor’s “chocolate bios. and compendia of his works. Lance is years, most recently in Drysdale, Australia, smitten, declared his undying pas- boxy confections”. But Ivor nearly always our first port of call on any in 2006. In fact, for some reason the play sion and Noël had to steer him beat him to it. As soon as queries on Coward publications, books and seems to have been particularly popular with firmly back into the house. The next Noël’s head appeared around programmes. His knowledge and collections university drama groups in Australia and day a note arrived addressed to the dressing room door, but are amongst the best we know. The first of New Zealand. However there don’t appear to “Dear Little Flapper”. Could he before he could open his his recent letters relates to the three act play have been very many professional revivals of please have a photograph? He mouth, Ivor cried out – The Young Idea written by Coward in 1921 the play, if any at all, perhaps because of the never got the photograph and “Ducky, I knew you’d love and admitted by him to be a ‘take’ on difficulty of casting the part of Lady Warple. “Dear Little Flapper” was never it”. There was really no an- Shaw’s You Never Can Tell. I suspect that very few of our more mature heard from again. (And the world swer to that. Exit Noël Cow- It was first produced at the Prince’s The- actresses would be willing - or indeed able - to rush around the stage on all fours, bark- had to wait for Danny La Rue.) ard. After all, who knew more atre, Bristol on 25 September 1922 as part of ing like a dog! But there were things Noël Joyce Breach and Geoffrey Skinner at The Ivy about timing your entrances a six week tour. Lance has acquired an early Here is another piece - there are more to couldn’t do….as he was the first to and exits? programme for that part of the tour that went follow in the next edition of Home Chat in April. admit. When an interviewer asked what they were on one oc- I always remember Graham telling me how – after Noël to the Prince’s Theatre, announcing that Robert A mouser with a mouthpiece... an article I received from casion, he pondered and said – “I could not dance in my own died – he and Coley would go up to Firefly and sit by the Courtneidge presents The Young Idea - a Comedy of Youth by the US probably from Barry Day about the famous cat at The ballet.” He’d proved that years earlier when, at 16, he was grave for a little while every evening. He said it gave them Noël Coward preceded by Mild Oats a one-act two-hander Algonquin. The piece is by Brooke Hauser of the Interna- part of a cabaret act at the old Café de Paris. He came on to something to hang on to, a kind of continuity. Then, one day, also written by Noël in the same year. The programme is tional Herald Tribune and is precised as follows: do a solo, forgot his words completely and had to exit quite suddenly, they looked at each other and said – “He’s dated Monday October 16th 1922 and was offered for six abruptly with a series of diminishing “La-la-la’s”. As he left, gone!”. The vibrations they’d both felt so strongly had van- performances that week starting at 7.30pm. The leading cast At the Algonquin hotel in New York there is a popular he heard someone say – “What an extraordinary young man ished. They were free to go, too. members of The Young Idea were Herbert Marshall, Ann saying “Dogs have owners. Cats have staff.” In the case of a that was. Nothing but “La-la-la”. I can’t get over it. Noël Back in Switzerland at Chalet Coward, he said, he felt Trevor and Noel Coward himself (pre-dieresis?) Ronald fleecy blue-eyed Birman named Matilda II, the hotel’s current cat-in-residence, that staff now includes a ghostwriter. luckily did – 30 years later when he returned to star there. them again. That’s why he was never lonely. And if you’ve Ward and Joan Chard took the stage for Mild Oats which is Matilda, 10 yrs. old, is the most recent of a long line of fe- But he didn’t try and dance! Nor did he ever tackle Shake- ever been there, you’ll know what Graham meant. described as a ‘comedietta’. lines that have carte blanche at the hotel since the 1930s. She speare, although he claimed he was offered five Any moment Noël is going to walk through that door and Lance’s second letter reveals a virtually unknown early is however the first of the hotel’s cats to have her own email version of Weatherwise published under the title Weather times. “I just knew that the day I declaimed “To be or not to sit down at the Steinway. And probably play “I’ll See You address: [email protected]. And for be…..” in public, it would be the death of me.” Then he Again”. Wise: A Shocking Tragedy in a collection entitled The Crown the last 18 months the task of answering Matilda’s fanmail thought for a moment. “I might play the Nurse in Romeo and He was always worried that, when he died, he’d be for- and Anchor, A Chelsea Quarto, edited by Reginald Blunt and from around the world has been left to someone with oppos- published by the Chelsea Publishing Company and the Cayne able thumbs. That would be Alice de Almeida, the executive Juliet”. gotten. Well, he was wrong about that too. The world re- Press in 1925. assistant to the general manager, Bill Liles (he, sad to say, is (In fact, he would have made a superb Malvolio in Twelth members. I’ve often thought there should be a Noël Coward Lance writes: This early play is less than half the length allergic to cats). When de Almeida, 60, was hired for the job Night.) Day. But, of course, there’s no need. His abiding talent of the version that was later produced, and is little more than at the Algonquin, she had no idea that her main duties would What else couldn’t he do? Well, there were certain makes sure that every day is Noël Coward Day. On this day, a revue sketch. I imagine that it was written very quickly in be to act as the mouthpiece for a mouser. But after two friends he could never quite control. Clemence Dane more than any other. response to a request to contribute an item to The Crown and decades of doing administrative work at hotels in Manhattan, (Winifred Ashton, the playwright and painter) – the greatest If he were here now, I think he’d be saying - “My little Anchor, which was published to raise funds for the Cheyne including the Peninisular and the Parker Meridian she dropper of verbal brickes (with the possible exception of dears, have a marvellous party! And no need to say ‘Wish Hospital for Children and included other pieces by eminent jumped at the chance. John Gielgud) was one of them. She once stayed with Noël you were here’. Because I am. And I always shall be. And Chelsea residents. When Coward decided to revise the play, “I thought it was just great that the hotel had a cat,” said presumably for its initial performance at Malvern in 1932, he in Jamaica and within a day she had painted several large whose birthday is it, anyway?”. It’s yours, Noël. Happy de Almeida, whose desk features photographs of her own res- pictures, told him the plots of several classic novels, dug a 107th, Master!” promoted the character of Mrs. Warple to Lady Warple, gave cued strays: Puddy Tat, Al E. Kat, Spitz, Einstein and Rags. fork in her own neck while illustrating how Shakespeare had After this moving toast, we settled down to lunch and Reggie a surname (Whistler) and Dr. Twickenham a first “And then when I found out that I was actually her voice, I Anna Massey signed copies of her autobiography ‘Telling name (Everard) and introduced a completely new character, died and went to heaven.” stabbed Marlowe and shortened Coley’s life when he caught the Rev. Harold Bisset, husband of Mrs./Lady Warple’s This Fall Matilda was honored as 2006 Cat of the Year at her floating naked on a lilo in the pool. Next day, she en- Some Tales’, which is highly recommended to members as it daughter, Monica. the Westchester Cat Show. livened a lunch party where the other guests – Binkie Beau- is a most absorbing and moving book with references to The action of the play remains much the same, although Purrfect! John Knowles mont, Terence Rattigan and John Gielgud were idly Noël. The atmosphere was exciting and very glamorous. the later version does not open with a séance, which comes discussing the fact that some people have split personalities Members had dressed for lunch as they might have done in Page 10 Page 3 Noël’s day. None of the ladies were wearing hats, but one The Noël Coward Society felt they might have liked to. WILL YOUNG OPENS IN THE VORTEX After coffee, we moved to another part of the room to Committee, Representatives and fter his undoubted success in the role of Bertie in hear Joyce Breach’s cabaret, which had an interesting colour- Mrs. Henderson Presents... it is not surprising ful backdrop. There was a curious glow, like a sunset, spread Consultants - 2007 that Will Young, known initially in the UK for across the latticed windows of the Ivy. It was in fact the Honorary Officers A his success in the February 2002 Pop Idol TV se- lights from the theatre opposite across the narrow street. President: HRH, The Duke of Kent ries, wants to be taken seriously as an actor. His educational Michael Hepworth introduced Joyce who entertained us Vice-Presidents: Barry Day, OBE. background at the University of Exeter where he read Poli- wonderfully to a selection of Coward songs, including ‘Lon- Stephen Fry. tics and as a student at The Arts Educational Schools in don Pride’. Reggie Musgrave recorded the cabaret and it is Moira Lister. Chiswick, London, indicate that he is an intelligent per- available to listen to via our website www.noelcoward.net. Sheridan Morley former who is prepared to work his way up in his new cho- Music expert, Dominic Vlasto concluded the afternoon with Accountant Graham Martin sen career well away from the tinsel of pop fame. Choosing his Vote of Thanks. He presented Joyce with a bouquet of (Blinkhorns) to take on the ground-breaking drama that made Noël Cow- flowers from the Society and said that he was particularly im- Elected Members ard an ‘overnight’ success is a brave move. pressed by the skilful interpretation of the songs by Joyce and Chairman Barbara Longford We know from his own lips that Coward wrote his dra- her accompanist, John Pearce, especially as they had had Secretary John Knowles mas as ‘fields of play’ for himself and applied intense pro- time for only one rehearsal. Treasurer Stephen Greenman fessional zeal to achieve his personal and professional goal It was a most enjoyable occasion and we look forward to Marketing & Publicity Jan Penn & of ‘travelling through life first-class’. His theatrical nous, seeing as many members as possible at our Annual Luncheon Denys Robinson hard won through a childhood of precocious encounters on Saturday 15th December this year. Richard Rose with the major theatrical players of the day including his Dominic Vlasto mentor the comic actor Charles Hawtrey, meant that he had Postscript: We know that those who attended the events Nominated Members a far larger armoury of skills to tackle the role of Nicky in New York and London would want to thank Ken Starrett N.C. Foundation Robert Gardiner Lancaster in The Vortex than Will Young can expect to have and Geoffrey Skinner for all of their planning and organisa- Alan Brodie Representation Lisa Foster or employ. tion of these two marvellous occasions. In New York Anna Warner Chappell Claire Osborne This depth of early experience meant that although he Bergman sang to an audience of some 60 members who had Samuel French Ltd Geoffrey Skinner was always highly self-critical of the structure of his early been presented with an array of Coward gifts personally cre- BBC Radio Drama Ned Chaillet and largely unsuccessful plays, Coward developed an ability ated by Ken and all lovingly wrapped in classic Christmas to write a good part and, as importantly, how to play it! colours - the thought and care that he applies to this annual Advisory Members Nicky Lancaster is not an easy part. Trying to convince an event is simply staggering! In London Geoffrey Skinner or- Dramatist Marcy Kahan audience that in the early part of a drama one is heterosex- ganised a flawless occasion at The Ivy where our guest and Broadway show album Producer Bill Rosenfield ual enough to marry a woman and later gay enough not to newest Vice President Barry Day gave the formal toast and Producer Stewart Nicholls want to, is a good trick if you can pull it off. It indicates at Joyce Breach a musical toast to The Master. Our thanks go to First Nighters Stephen Marshall the very least that one needs to take a dramatic journey dur- both for providing such splendid occasions. ing the course of the play that justifies this apparent change With thanks to Ken Starrett, Geoffrey King, Michael Representatives of awareness of one’s sexual personality! Photo courtesy of the Royal Exchange Theatre Photo courtesy of the Royal Exchange Hepworth, Jan King (for her ‘memory’), Reggie Musgrave, North American Director Ken Starrett Many NCS members saw the Donmar production of The Barry Day, Barbara Longford, Geoffrey Skinner and US West Coast Alan Farley Vortex with its contraversial ‘colour-blind’ casting of a black strength and is certainly well worth seeing. Stephen Greenman. Australia Robert Wickham actor as the son of a middle-aged white couple. Some found I look forward to watching it on Feb 17th not least to wit- France Helene Catsiapis that the production failed to build and ignite the passions ness Will’s courage in appearing on a small stage not an needed to make the final scene the explosive denouement arm’s length from young fans who would never have Consultants first seen when Coward and Lilian Braithwaite shocked the dreamed of getting so near to their idol. They might normally NC Estate Alan Brodie first-night audience at the Everyman Theatre in November expect to view him through binoculars performing at the far Author (& Vice President) Barrie Day, OBE 1924. end of Wembley Arena! Biographer Philip Hoare As in the Donmar production Will Young and the cast of The Independent newspaper gives the following positive this revival have the task of making the play pertinent to assessment: ANNA NEAGLE - the Coward Chorus Girl modern audiences. Will has the added task of convincing In many ways Young is perfect in the part of Nicky Lan- audiences, that he is more than a ‘pop idol’. At this stage in caster, the spoilt, heroin-shooting boy, emotionally adrift from 1904 to 1986 - notes on a British star by Terry Trimmer his career it is hard to see how he can win. Such a serious his resigned father and flighty mother, and weary of the nebu- Anna’s real name was Marjorie Robertson which she used change of role places him on the sacrificial altar of the lous life he's drowning in. Diana Hardcastle gives a com- when she was one of C.B. Cochran’s ‘Young Ladies’. She media. It is a pity that so many of the early reviews dwell on pelling performance as his calculating, socialite mother, was ‘reborn’ as Anna Neagle (her mother’s maiden name) on what they describe as his ‘camp’ playing of the main charac- Florence - her selfish vanity and weakness for extra marital August 21st 1930 at the start of her phenomenal film career. ter whilst the other, mainly female, roles are unquestion- affairs with younger men blinding her to her son's vulnerabil- She was an undoubted star managed to great effect by her ingly praised. The design and overall direction of the play ity. Their final, wretched encounter, as they teeter on the brink husband Herbert Wilcox who directed her in Bitter Sweet wins applause. So the debate seems to centre around the de- of descending into a vortex of beastliness is searing in its in- with her co-star Fernand Gravet and the inimitable Ivy St. cision to play Nicky in the way he has. Was it a directorial tensity. As they tear at each other's failures, you feel mother Helier. Anna was created a Dame in 1969 and appeared in decision or Will’s own or - as some are saying - a sign that and son deserve each other. Pantomime, almost at the end of her life, as the Fairy God- there is simply not the depth of ability from this pop star to Cast: Will Young, Diana Hardcastle, Laura Rees, Alexander mother. play such a difficult role? Mathie, David Fielder, Drew Carter-Cain, Sam Heughan, Coward is quoted in Charles Castle’s book Noël Who knows? Someone who has shown so much ability Rhiannon Oliver, David Peart “A star is somebody whose name over the title drags the as a singer/songwriter and who has as an actor played a role Director: Jo Combes Designer: Lez Brotherston audience into the theatre and the only quality they’ve got to in a major movie in a sensitive and effective way should at The Vortex is showing at The Royal Exchange, Man- have is ‘star’ quality. I think my darling Anna Neagle who least be allowed to develop his skills during the run of this chester until March 10th 2007. Tickets are available on started her career with me as one of my chorus girls is a regional production without too much finger-pointing. If the 0161 615 6815 or 0161 833 9833. star”. overall reaction is correct then this revival has considerable John Knowles Page 4 Page 9 Noël and Cole at the Hampton Hill Playhouse n Saturday 3rd February Society members re- lishmen’ for instance, but there was one unusual inclusion – The moment I switched turned to the elegant Playhouse situated close to ‘When You Want Me’ – not so well known, in fact I had to Noël’s birthplace at Waldegrave Road, Tedding- look it up in our own Music Index on our Website, so I can out the lights, O ton, which has a Noël Coward Theatre on the now say with authority that it comes from Sail Away and was first floor. We last visited in May 2005 to see Laughter, Lister written in 1961. This was wonderful ensemble playing by a and Love which Celia Cologne produced to accompany the most talented cast with some beautiful singing voices. It is Gertie appeared... formal presentation to the Playhouse of the Molyneux dress difficult to comprehend that these are “amateur” performers worn by Moira Lister in the 1948 production of Present who all have demanding day jobs. The Coward half of the and Gertie iceberg: the pair had Laughter. (For a review of that occasion, see Home Chat, show ended with an upbeat and rousing finale - the whole legendary rows. June 2005). cast singing ‘Sail Away’ . When Private Lives pre- miered on August 19, 1930 at We attended the final performance of Noël and Cole To- During the interval we strolled up to the Noël Coward Douglas Gordon presents the sketch to Barbara Longford at the AGM at the the King’s Theatre in Edin- gether Again, devised and directed, by Celia Cologne, which Theatre to look at the memorabilia on display in its foyer. Theatre Museum, Covent Garden had been playing in the main theatre (197 seats) to a packed Moira Lister’s signed photograph, which she donated to the burgh, it was received en- auditorium for a week. It was immediately obvious that the theatre with the Molyneux gown, is now inside the showcase thusiastically by evening would have style because the set was a perfect com- near Noël’s dinner jacket and the gown was displayed on a audiences. Coward pliment to the glamorous world associated with Noël and dummy and we marvelled at the slimness of the waistline. played Elyot to Cole in the 1920’s and 30’s. It was a chic restaurant or night Act Two was all Porter numbers and the cast seemed to Lawrence’s Amanda, club – circular tables with long white starched cloths, period enjoy it more; they were more relaxed and at ease with the and a young Lawrence wicker chairs, interestingly positioned plants, cocktail shak- material. It may be that it is just so darned difficult to sing Olivier played Victor, ers on the bar and a magnificent white piano. The cast entered Coward. The staging was as before, the cast entered, as if for with Adrianne Allen casually, as if they had stepped out of their chauffeur-driven a party but this time the women were wearing long black as Sybil (Olivier’s Hispano-Suizas outside in Bond Street. The men wore dinner gowns. There were more champagne bottles and a candelabra wife Jill Esmond jackets and the women gowns of exceptional elegance, Char- appeared (I believe that Cole Porter took his own silver with would take over the role of lotte Walker in ice grey satin, Mandy Stenhouse in a delicious him on his travels) and photographs from his life were pro- Sybil for the Broadway production in Douglas Gordon and 1931). Coward himself directed the play, and green silk and Denise Truscott (who modelled Moira Lister’s jected onto the back screen. Celia again led an Opening Band Anna Massey gown for us in May ‘05) in a finely tailored gown the colour Medley of ‘It’s Just one of Those things’, ‘The Physician’ and the backstage behavior became every bit as dramatic as the action in front of the footlights. Everley Gregg, who of good claret. As they gossiped together and sipped their ‘Begin the Beguine’. Jim Trimmer opened wearing a stetson oward claimed the inspiration for the played the maid Louise, had heard Coward and Lawrence en- Martini cocktails, Celia Cologne made her entrance wearing a hat, with a very true rendering of ‘Don’t Fence Me In’, fol- play he wrote for Gertrude Lawrence came in the gaged in an offstage shouting match. She found them in a full length cream satin gown and a perfect Louise Brooks’ lowed by John Pyle’s superb voice singing ‘I Love Paris’. We form of a vision he experienced one evening “full-scale fist fight,” and attempted to hairstyle. were sitting next to four very young people – under 20 – and while attempting to get an pull them apart, shouting “Stop it, stop it, Celia has been a member of NCS for some years and is a when Mandy Stenhouse stepped forward and declaimed ‘I Cearly night’s sleep. I love you both.” They stopped dead, but most accomplished pianist. She played the white piano for Hate Men’, they were absolutely astonished and found it very “The moment I switched out the to Gregg’s astonishment, Coward turned the entire evening, accompanied by Gordon Edwards on Per- amusing. In these oh so politically correct days, perhaps it is lights, Gertie appeared in a white on her: cussion and Jan Kiernan on Bass. It was a tour de force on has regained its shock value. Jim Trimmer was superb again Molyneux dress and refused to go “Well, you’re fired for a start! How Celia’s part. The repertoire of Coward and Porter songs with "You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To’, giving it varied again until four am, by which time dare you interfere when I’m talking to my played was extensive and if any readers have themselves at- pace and that all so important pause before a beat and Char- Private Lives, a title and all, had con- friend!” tempted to play, say ‘Nina’, they will realise the extent of lotte Walker gave ‘My Heart Belongs to Daddy’ all the piz- structed itself.” Coward did not actu- Douglas Gordon gave the Society a Celia’s talent. zazz it demands. ally write the play immediately sketch that is one of a series that Act 1 was all Coward songs and it began with a Band Many readers will have seen the 1950’s film version of following the revelation, but instead Molyneux painted for the dresses that Medley, as the Bright Young Things (the cast) sipped and Kiss Me Kate and the unforgettable version of ‘Brush up Your held it in his memory until a severe Amanda wore in Private Lives. chatted. The songs themselves were punctuated by narration Shakespeare’ – well, at the Hampton Hill Playhouse on Satur- bout of the flu laid him up in the The inscription below the sketch says: about Coward’s life and work and centre stage, at the back of day night Stephen Bentley, Chris Hurles and Jim Trimmer Cathay Hotel in Shanghai. With an “The original Edward Molyneux wa- the night club, period photographs and art deco designs and gave it a good run for its money. After each chorus they Eversharp pencil and a pad of paper, tercolour sketch of the fish back design patterns were projected. Four of the cast performed ‘Nina’ joined hands above heads and did a ring step dance. And he wrote Private Lives in just four detail for the costume made in the work- jointly and Chris Hurles (the waiter) amused us greatly by his Stephen Bentley’s perfect English diction, was abandoned in days. rooms of his haute couture salon in Paris, ostentatious, but rhythmic, use of the cocktail shaker behind favour of a most authentic American accent. As Noël might Continuing his travels through the House of Molyneux for the character the singers, reminiscent of Stephen Fry’s performance in an have said, it tore the place up. Jim Trimmer’s ‘I Love You Hong Kong, Coward transcribed the Amanda played by Gertrude Lawrence in early television show with Hugh Laurie. ‘Mad About the Samantha’ was, to my mind, perfectly sung. As I write this, I comedy on his portable typewriter and the original stage production of Private Boy’ was given an interesting change in that Mandy Sten- am very moved to consider that one man wrote all this won- sent a copy to Lawrence. Known for Lives which was written, directed and house played the Society lady, Denise Truscott the schoolgirl, derful music and much of it when he was in pain ‘Let’s Mis- playing hard to get when it came to starred in the role of Elyot the Master but the tart’s verses were performed by Stephen Bentley. behave’ was such fun and the cast danced and high kicked accepting roles, she wired Coward himself, Noël Coward” Douglas has ‘ was particularly enjoyable with good pace and timing and the lovely Denise displayed some bright red saucy silk that there was nothing wrong with Pri- added the following: and Stephen Bentley’s lovely voice and clear, crisp Cow- Can Can knickers in the process. vate Lives that couldn’t be fixed. Presented to the Noël Coward Society ardesque diction, which does not try to emulate The Master, The highlight of the evening, for me, was Terence M. Car- Coward retorted that the only by Douglas Gordon December 16th 2006. was displayed to advantage. Members may recall his por- dinal’s portrayal of ‘I’m a Gigolo’. One of Porter’s most thing that would be in need of fixing Where this precious item is to be trayal of Garry Essendine in at the Play- moving songs, Terence gave it, as well as lyrical skill, a great would be her performance. Such ex- placed so that it can be seen by members house in 2004, when Moira Lister joined us and was poignancy. changes epitomized the contentious and the general public has yet to be de- particularly impressed by Stephen’s acting. It was a very good evening in this jewel of amateur the- nature of their friendship. Although cided but rest assured seen it will be - The choice of Coward songs was fairly predictable, but atres. A particular thanks to Graham Sawyer and Celia non-sexual in nature, Coward’s and such a design gem must be seen - possi- rightly so as the show was intended for a wide audience, to Cologne, for making it possible. And of course, to Noël and Lawrence’s love-hate relationship was bly in the moonlight on a balcony some- whom many of the numbers were obviously completely new. Cole. Barbara Longford in other ways quite similar to their respective Private Lives where... ‘Mrs Worthington’, ‘Marvellous Party’, ‘Mad Dogs and Eng- characters, and verbal repartee was merely the tip of the Noël

Page 8 Page 5 tings, photograph albums and folders, “Noël and I did a dance together in souvenir programmes and di- aries. There are also one or which we imitated Fred and Adele wi nce two artefacts/pictures n th the Da ! plus links to the previous Astaire. When we danced off stage O evening’s music, in the shape of music manu- the applause was terrific. Noël made  scripts by Norman Hack- The ultimate choreographers!  forth. Dominic will give some no attempt to take an encore at first.  fascinating insights into his re- He caught my hand and just stood cent research, where new information on Coward’s there in the wings. ‘That’s for us composing career has been brought to light from unex- Gertie’, he said, grinning. pected sources. Coffee and biscuits will be served, be- ‘That’s for us - the two kids fore the party leaves for from the suburbs. We’ve March the Electric Cinema. We shall enjoy a re- definitely arrived. 24 & 25 ception at the Cinema, 2007 before proceeding to Let’s stand a screening of Tom Courtenay, here and see Nichola McAuli- ffe and Robert how long they Glenister in a dramatised keep it up.’” version of  Coward’s short story Me and the Girls produced by the BBC. A support- ing bill will be drawn from a selection of The dancing years of the 20s and 30s when the stylish ‘video shorts’ including a recently produced footsteps of Fred and Adele Astaire guided Noël and Gertie in video tour of Chalet Coward at Les Avants and part 2 of Noël’s home movies - a sequel to the sequence shown at the their glamorous routine in ‘London Calling’ in 1922. ‘Future Definite’ Conference at Oxford last year. Members can then take their own choice of venue for refreshments and food, guided by our resident member will give us the benefit of his local Join us for this nostalgic return to knowledge.  the dance bands of the era, including Ambrose and his Or- After lunch our omnibus will return us to Lucas House in the University  the days when ‘dancing pumps’ were chestra, Jack Hylton and his Orchestra, Jack Payne and his grounds. Join us for this nostalgic trip back to the style and glamour of the slipped on the feet of the flappers of BBC Dance Orchestra, Carroll Gibbons and the Savoy ‘dancing years’ in these wonderful settings! The inclusive cost will be £140 per person for all the events mentioned above including dinner, accommo- the post-war era and the Hotel Orpheans, and the Artie Shaw Orchestra and perhaps even the Piccadilly Dance Orchestra - we glide once more dation and breakfast. Wine and bar drinks are available for purchase. Thé Dansant of the Palm Court across the floor in the style of Fred and Adele. tripped gently into the Jazz Age. Later, after our three-course dinner at Lucas House, the tables will be cleared for dessert and coffee and we will set- tle back for some unique cabaret entertainment: the songs of here are but a handful of places left for this won- Noël Coward, sung by Dominic Vlasto, using accompani- derful event hosted at the gracious red-brick ments on piano tracks originally recorded onto tape by Nor- Lucas House at the University of Birmingham, man Hackforth in the early 1980s. There will be few home of the Noël Coward Archive and a stone’s T surprises in the repertoire, but this is a unique opportunity throw from the exotic ballroom of the Redcliffe Botanical to hear Hackforth’s wonderfully supportive musical talent, Gardens & Glasshouses and the wonderful Electric Cin- and in their own way are as near to “authentic” Coward ema. A step back in time to the style and glamour of Cow- cabaret as you are likely to encounter. An additional attrac- ard’s golden age! tion will be some special guitar arrangements of Noël Cow- Don’t miss this “flagship” event in the Coward calen- ard’s songs played and sung by John Knowles and Geoff dar. The weekend will launch itself in the glorious sur- King. roundings of our ‘own’ ballroom. Here as we gently lift The following day sees, in close succession, a visit to cup to lip and sip our tea we shall be returned to those the Noël Coward Archive in the Special Collections area of heady days of the 20s by dance master Richard Rose To register, please complete the form included in Home Chat the Birmingham University Library where Dominic Vlasto demonstrating classic dance-styles. Then it is your chance as soon as possible and send to: will give a guided talk around the display, which will in- Dominic Vlasto, Long Gores, Hickling, Norfolk, NR12 0BE to join those who wish to ‘strictly come dancing’ when - clude items taken from the collection of scripts, music of to the accompaniment of Noël Coward’s music, played by or get in touch directly by: various sorts, lyrics (including in manuscript), press cut- email: [email protected] or tel: 01692 598 185 Page 6 Page 7