A MAGAZINE ABOUT THE LIFE AND WORK OF SIR NOËL COWARD • NOVEMBER 2011 NOËL’S BIRTHDAY In the UK, 16th December. AGM at the Noël Coward Theatre, Richard Briers will guest at the flower-laying ceremony, luncheon at the Grand Saloon, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane - AND Rebecca Caine and Stefan Bednarczyck in cabaret. In the US On the 17th, a screening at the Paley Center, New York, of a film not previously shown, with the flower-laying ceremony and luncheon on the 18th - not to be missed! THE GRAND TOUR A day in Birmingham - 30 June 2012 to see Coward’s ballet ‘The Grand Tour’ AND visit the Coward Special Collection at Birmingham University. HAY FEVER A date for your diary - Saturday 17th March 2012 for a matinée performance at The Noël Coward Theatre. Hay Fever stars Lindsay Duncan, Jeremy Northam, Kevin McNally and Olivia Colman. - date confirmation and more to follow. STAR QUALITY The World of Noël Coward An exhibition that has toured the world reaches New York and will prove to be the most comprehensive yet! March through August 2012. Supported by a range of US Noël Coward events. Noël Coward and Kay Thompson with ‘Matelot’at Goldenhurst PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL NOËL COWARD SOCIETY - 1- www.noëlcoward.net EDITORIAL he most exciting period in the world of Coward lies ahead of us as we move towards the end of the year and embrace 2012. Lindsay Duncan will play Judith Bliss in a new West End production of Hay Fever , the first time a Coward play has been revived in the Noël Coward Theatre since it was refurbished and renamed after him. The production, which is directed by Howard Davies, will play a limited West End season from 23 February (previews from 10 February) to 2 June 2012. We are arranging a matinée visit on Saturday 17th March to see the play - details to follow. The largest exhibition ever on Noël Coward and his work Star Quality - The World of Noël Coward will take place at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts at Lincoln Center from March to August with events taking place across the US as part of a festival of celebration. The Birmingham Hippodrome will be hosting the Birmingham Ballet’s interpretation of Coward’s The Grand Tour and both the UK and US branches of the society will be offering events around Christmas to rejoice on Noël’s birthday once more. Our thanks to those who came to our successful day in London where for some members the highlight was the tour of the Queen’s theatre ‘ actually standing on the stage of Les Mis! ’ For others the successful afternoon workshop on Coward’s plays and music at The Actors Centre. Can I thank everyone who renewed their membership in July and remind you that January renewals will be coming up before we know it. Please help us to keep the Society alive and flourishing by your support. John Knowles CONTENTS ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Playing With the Audience 8 Editorial and September 17th Event 2 From the Archive 11 Coward Birthday and Ballet - forthcoming events 3 Firefly 16 Bitter Sweet in New York 5 How I became interested in Noël Coward 21 A Few Don’ts for Directors 6 Coward on the Coast 22 Look Back in Pleasure 7 Family Album 25 WORDS AND MUSIC - NCS EVENT ON SEPTEMBER 17 ueens Theatre was the starting point for a Saturday adventure in the West End. Archivist Rosy Runciman welcomed us with coffee in the foyer where Noël’s ‘wings’ hang resplendent overlooking the staircase to the circle. Two groups of members were taken around the theatre where they saw ‘Marlene’s Room’ dedicated to Marlene Dietrich and used for entertaining small gatherings of theatre goers. The highlight for many was standing on the set of Les Miserables and looking out across the auditorium. After lunch in nearby eateries we gathered at ‘The Actors Centre’ for an afternoon workshop on acting led by Ian Cullen and Yvonne Quenet , who led us through warm-up exercises, tips on reading and performing a script and gave us a sketch from Noël’s London Calling - 'Growing Pains'. Dominic Vlasto led us through ‘how to perform a Coward comic song’ with an emphasis on timing and pace and, with accompanist Celia Cologne, sang ‘Why Must the Show Go On?’, ‘Try to Learn to Love’, ‘Louisa’, ‘Has Anybody Seen Our Ship?’, ‘Marvellous Party’ and (most memorably) ‘Mrs Worthington’ in one of his best performances ever. Our thanks go to Rosy Runciman of Cameron Mackintosh Dominic Vlasto Ltd. and our teacher/performers Ian Cullen and Yvonne Quenet who provided such an entertaining afternoon. This approach to a day of linked but distinct events in London appeared to be a great success and marks a move towards similar NCS happenings in the future. Ed. - 2- Birthday, Briers, Ballet... and Hay Fever Friday 16th December The AGM of the Society (10.45 for 11.15am) at The Noël Coward Theatre Richard Briers is our guest at the Annual Flower-Laying Ceremony (12.30pm) and afterwards for drinks with NCS members. Luncheon & Cabaret (1.00 for 1.30pm) with Rebecca Caine and Stefan Bednarczyck in The Grand Saloon at the Theatre Royal o come an join us at this year’s ‘Coward Birthday Celebrations’ in the UK when Richard Briers will lay flowers on the statue of Sir Noël Coward and meet members for drinks afterwards. Richard Briers is a distinguished actor, from the theatre, television and film worlds, whose early career led him to form a strong affection for Noël Coward. We are also delighted to welcome Rebecca Caine and Stefan Bednarczyck who will provide the cabaret after luncheon. Rebecca Caine Richard Briers Uniquely, her career has been divided between Opera and Musical Theatre, making her West End debut at 19 in the role We also hope to be joined by a figure who has been a noted of ‘Laurey’ in Oklahoma! She then sang the role of ‘Eliza’ in director of Coward’s work to talk about his life in the theatre. My Fair Lady on the National tour. While making her debut at Glyndebourne as ‘Amor’ in L’incoronazione di Poppea , she Our special guests include Robert and Pirjo Gardiner was asked to join the Royal Shakespeare Company where she (Robert is Chairman of Noël Coward Ltd. and a trustee of the created the role of ‘Cosette’ in Les Miserables . After a Noël Coward Foundation). successful West End run she joined the original cast of Phantom of the Opera to play ‘Christine’ opposite Michael We also welcome broadcaster and passionate scholar of the Crawford. She then returned to Toronto to repeat the role in the music of Noël Coward, Alan Farley who is travelling from San Canadian premiere of Phantom . During her run in Toronto she Francisco to be with us. joined the Canadian Opera Company to make her highly praised North American debut in the title role of ‘Lulu’. Annual Luncheon and Cabaret Stefan Bednarczyck Tickets £75 MENU Stefan is an actor, director, pianist and accomplished cabaret performer. He performed for Graham Payn at his 80th birthday Potted Scottish salmon confit of lemon and cracked celebration and is a notable performer of Coward’s songs. His pepper, served with blinis performance and consequent recording of his show on Flanders and Swann won numerous plaudits. Slow-roasted Gressingham duck leg with parsnip puree sticky shallots, string beans and Oxford sauce A reviewer at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival states: “But it was a singer-pianist Stefan Bednarczyk who impressed Traditional truffle recipe on a dark chocolate and most. In his second Noël Coward solo show one really saw almond sponge, dusted with cocoa powder and topped his full calibre: superb incisiveness and aliveness to every with a white chocolate flower . nuance of intellectual with, irony and tragic self-disclosure in Served with cafetiere coffee or tea songs such as;’Bitter Sweet’, ‘The World is Wide’ and of There is a vegetarian option as well. course, ‘Mad Dogs and Englishmen’. ” and still water These two artists are working together on a special programme Price includes wine/cordials/sparkling for us at our Annual Luncheon at the Grand Saloon, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. - 3- Saturday 17th March 2.30pm First Ballet , after which there will be a 25 minute HAY FEVER interval where we return to the restaurant for dessert. Second Ballet , after which we again return to the restaurant, 2.30pm for coffee. The Noël Coward Theatre Third Ballet , after which there is an optional extra for We are planning to provide an early members, if they so wish, at no charge: opportunity to see Howard Davies’ new interpretation of Hay Fever 5.15pm About ten minutes after the performance, an starring Lindsay Duncan, Jeremy opportunity for Members to see backstage at the Hippodrome Northam, Kevin McNally and and view some of the unique facilities of the Birmingham Olivia Colman. Details will follow Royal Ballet’s headquarters. nearer the time. Please keep an eye on our website for further details - Example prices and options for the day’s events: although we will inform you either by letter or Home Chat of the Lindsay Duncan Option 1 The Full Day , Birmingham University; lunch; planned arrangements. Matinee Ticket; and a programme, followed by a backstage tour: £65 per person . Saturday 30th June THE GRAND TOUR Option 2 Lunch and Matinee , Meet at Birmingham Hippodrome for 1pm for lunch, Matinee ticket, and a Birmingham University and Birmingham Hippodrome programme, followed by a backstage tour: £55 per person .