‘Date of entry : Thursay 11 October 2007
The year to date has seen Noël’s presence everywhere. Ken Starrett has presented Noël at various venues including Ten Chimneys and recently enjoyed great success with his latest NCS event in New York (more of this in his Notes From New York on page 2). In the UK the BBC has produced a three-part series on Coward’s music, Mad About The Boy, with Neil Tennant at the helm and Kit Hesketh Harvey traced the story of the intertwined careers of Noël Coward and Ivor Novello in the repeat of a programme with the same title in the BBC’s archive series.
Despite Coward’s famous paradoxical maxim that, “ Time has convinced me of one thing. Television is for appearing on, not looking at,” the release of a 7-disc set DVD of lost BBC Coward delights on September 11th (sadly only in NTSC format) was greatly welcomed - and watched! It features star-studded BBC productions of Coward’s full-length and one-act plays, and short stories plus bonus features including several radio plays, interviews and profiles of Coward. Ken Starrett commented immediately on the high visual quality of the Coward plays only seen previously on TV or on VHS. The change to digital appears to have added a new sparkle as well as offering an unrivalled collection from the BBC archives - more please!
On the stage in the US ‘Food For Thought’ continues to offer the highest quality lunchtime readings and Q & A sessions on Coward in the Players Club with Ways and Means and Red Peppers on the bill for the Fall.
In London Present Laughter gets underway at the Lyttleton Theatre - the scene for a special NCS event on 13 November when Barry Day appears in a Platform event at the National with extracts from his new book, The Letters of Noël Coward, published the previous day. This followed by a performance of Present Laughter, also at the Lyttleton, directed by Howard Davies and starring Alex Jennings as Garry Essendine.
After the performance members are invited to dine at the theatre’s Mezzanine Restaurant, overlooking the river with Barry Day and his wife, Lynne and some of the artists taking place in the ‘platform’, including Barrie Ingham, playing Noël. Geoffrey Johnson, who was Noël’s US representative, will be there together with the Society’s Australian representative, Robert Wickham from Sydney and NCS French representative, Hélène Catsiapis, from Paris. Full details from Barbara Longford on this month’s insert/booking form.
Other professional productions to be seen in the US are The Antaeus Company’s presentation of the nine one-act plays in Tonight at 8:30 in North Hollywood. This event will be performed in two parts – Part One – Tonight at 8:30: If Love Were All, that will begin previews on Thursday, October 18 and Part Two – Tonight at 8:30: Come The Wild, that will begin previews on Monday, November 5 at Antaeus’ new interim home, Deaf West Theatre. Each evening is comprised of four one-act plays. The two remaining plays will be presented separately during the run as special events.
On Monday, December 3, 2007 at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in Lincoln Center (111 Amsterdam Avenue) a special event will be presented entitled:
Private Lives Recalled: The Letters of Noël Coward. This is an entertainment devised and narrated by Barry Day. Featured performers will be Anna Bergman, Patricia Conolly, Dana Ivey, Simon Jones, and Steve Ross. Barry Day is the editor of The Letters of Noël Coward. The program starts at 6:00 pm and will end at 7:15 pm
Immediately following this event, a shorter version of the program will be presented at 7:30 pm at Barnes & Noble located at 66th and Broadway. There will be an introduction of the 7-disc BBC Video The Noël Coward Collection. Time for a question and answer session and book signing will finish the evening.
The smashing success of her cabaret act in April has prompted a Return Engagement by Miss Tammy Grimes to the Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street, New York) Reservations: (212) 206-0440. She will be appearing October 24 through 27 at 7:30 pm each evening. In addition to two songs from High Spirits heard in her previous engagement, this time she will be adding three songs by Noël Coward. Following this engagement, Miss Grimes can be seen at the Empire Plush Room in San Francisco from October 30 to November 11 – Tickets and reservations: (866) 468-3399
In Canada Blithe Spirit is being produced by the Soulpepper Theatre Company in Toronto directed by Morris Panych at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto from November 7 to December 22, 2007.
In London at the Theatre Royal, Windsor, hopefully prior to a West End run, Felicity Kendall appears in Bill Kenwright’s production of The Vortex also featuring Dan Stevens who members will recall played Simon Bliss in the Peter Hall production of Hay Fever with Dame Judi Dench at the Haymarket in August 2006.
The Kneehigh Theatre’s new adaptation of the film classic Brief Encounter is currently running at Birmingham Repertory until 20 October BO: 0121 236 4455 or book online: www.birmingham-rep.co.uk.
The Better Half is mentioned elsewhere in this edition and provides a chance to see this one-act play from 1921 at the Union Theatre, Southwark, London 16 October to 10 November.
One of the most anticipated events of the Coward calendar are the Birthday celebrations in New York and London. How considerate of Noël’s parents to ensure that their son was born during the holiday season when good cheer is rife and the streets of the twin capitals are thronging with people, as Coward would say, “...all set to have themselves a ball!”
These sister events always create a great deal of interest among members. In New York members will attend a flower-laying celebration at the Gershwin Theatre and in London, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. For the first time in London Barbara Longford has managed, through the generosity of Cameron Macintosh, to arrange for our Annual General Meeting to be held at The Noël Coward Theatre.
In New York lunch will be held in The Manhattan Club and in London at The Ivy - each year, following lunch, a short cabaret entertains members in both cities. In London this year consummate Coward interpreter Steve Ross will entertain at the piano.
Performances of Coward’s work elsewhere across the globe can be seen on the new professional theatre What’s On? pages on www.noelcoward.com the new home of the Coward Estate.
Barbara Longford, Ken Starrett and John Knowles
NOTES FROM NEW YORK
The past few months might well be described as the summer of Noël Coward. His story was told and his works were presented in various forms all across the country.
The month of June started off brightly with the production in New York of Noël and His Ladies, a delightful musical confection created by Steve Ross and Barry Day. There were productions of Coward’s plays at several major theatres. In July, The Guthrie in Minneapolis served up a zesty Private Lives and The Williamstown Theatre in Massachusetts charmed their audiences with Blithe Spirit.
Sparkling presentations of Noël Coward’s music could also be heard throughout much of the summer. A critically acclaimed musical revue called A Marvelous Party, first captivated audiences in Chicago, and in July and August productions were seen in Palm Beach and Boston.
Two NCS members, Lance Hewett and Bryan Williams have a production company called Isle of Shoals Productions. In August at Hofstra University on Long Island they presented a musical tribute called Café Coward. This entertainment consisted of 51 songs and was a wonderful chance to hear both popular and lesser known music of “the Master.”
In August, audiences in Chicago had the rare opportunity of seeing a seldom-produced full production of Bitter Sweet. The sold-out engagement received glowing notices. A new NCS member, Fay Paras, reports that it was extremely well done and beautifully sung. Ms. Paras happens to be a cousin of our Society representative in Paris, France - Ms. Helene Catsiapis.
The exhibit of photos and memorabilia at Ten Chimneys, Noël Coward in Ten (reported in the August issue of Home Chat) nicely tells the Coward story and continues to fascinate those who tour the home of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne in Genesee Depot, Wisconsin. In September, as part of Ten Chimney’s ongoing series “Conversations” Ken Starrett presented his program of photos, music and narration entitled, Noël Coward: A Renaissance Man.
In New York on September 20th at The Paley Center for Media, a screening entitled Noël, Ed and Ginger was presented to Society members. The program consisted of the1954 television production of Tonight at 8:30 starring Ginger Rogers, Martyn Green and Trevor Howard. Also shown was Coward being interviewed in 1956 by Edward R. Murrow on the popular program, Person to Person. Rounding out the evening was a clip of Coward’s 1964 appearance on the game show What’s My Line? We are happy to report that the audience was the largest ever to attend one of our screenings.
With all of this activity across America, clearly Noël Coward and his works are alive and well.
Ken Starrett
Date of entry : Saturday 19 May 2007
Hay Fever’ a funny clash of theater and regular folk
Colorado Springs Gazette - Colorado Springs,CO,USA
It’s based on Noel Coward’s stormy friendship with actress Laurette Taylor. She was a Broadway star on the way down, almost as wellknown for her offstage ...
Household names in classic comedy
Ledbury Reporter - Ledbury,UK
NOEL Coward's classic comedy of manners, Hayfever, starring much loved TV personalities Stephanie Beacham and Christopher Timothy, comes to Malvern Theatres ...
'Alias' to Noel Coward: A star shows his range
Boston Globe - Boston,MA,USA
The space seems worlds away from the posh drawing rooms one associates with Noel Coward . But range has never been a problem for Garber, who's starring in ...
Date of entry : Tuesday 9 May 2007
Mark your calendar
News-Leader.com - Springfield,MO,USA
June 28-30 and July 1-3, 5-7 —"Blithe Spirit," Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. July 12-14, 16-22 —"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," Stephen ...
Setting the standards Cabaret diva Wilson wins raves at any age
MLive.com - MI,USA
Denny will travel to Ann Arbor for the show, which Wilson said will offer a mix of songs by Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, Stephen Sondheim and Noel Coward. ...
UI chooses new comic voice for Summer Rep
Iowa City Press Citizen - Iowa City,IA,USA
... salad something of the wildman craziness of a Steve Martin, say, with the wry emotional density of Chekhov and a touch of Noel Coward's wit," Forsythe said.
‘Moon over Buffalo’ will tickle your funny bone
Annapolis Capital - Annapolis,MD,USA
The final bit of insanity comes when part of the cast is in costume and on stage in one of the repertory group’s productions, Noel Coward’s “Private Lives,” ...
Date of entry : Tuesday 2 May 2007
Christopher and Egolf Cast in Barrington's A Picasso
Playbill.com - New York,NY,USA
On Broadway he was seen in Caesar and Cleopatra and Noel Coward in Two Keys (Theatre World Award), and his other stage credits include Tamara—The Living ...
of The Daily Times Staff
Maryville Daily Times - Maryville,TN,USA
"Blithe Spirit" is a comedy written by the late Noel Coward, which focuses on socialite Charles Condomine who is being haunted by his first wife Elvira, ...
Crash-course in love
Sunday Times.au - Perth,WA,Australia
As the characters change partners, Closer comes over like a modern reworking of Noel Coward’s 1930 comedy, Private Lives but much nastier and dirtier. ...
Date of entry : Friday 20 April 2007
Playing Light
Artvoice - Buffalo,NY,USA
“Blithe Spirit is one of my favorite comedies…and I love most of Noël Coward’s stuff. I knew I didn’t have the chops to do this by myself, ...
Event to aid 'Old Art' sound system
Leelanau Enterprise - Leland,MI,USA
“Noel Coward is a classic playwright and his scripts are extremely entertaining. People who come to this fundraising event on will get little snippets of ...
Reigonal Theater News - upcoming seasons, and casting advice from ...
By Rebecca
... Government Inspector, Alan Stanford’s version of Jane Eyre, Noel Coward’s Private Lives, Beckett’s Happy Days, Naomi Iizuka’s After a Hundred Years, and touring productions of King Lear and The Seagull, both starring Ian McKellen. ...
Theatre Review - Blithe Spirit
By nAl(nAl)
For a play that was written in 1941, the themes of noveau riche eccentricity, petty jealousy and marriage are very current in the black comedy by Noel Coward, especially when translated into the local context as well as Wild Rice’s ...
RIP Kitty Carlisle
By Dave Lucas(Dave Lucas)
Her home is decorated with paintings by longtime friends Irving Berlin, Noel Coward, and George Gershwin. Her grandfather fought in the Civil War (for the Confederates), and Kitty Dukakis was named after Carlisle (their mothers were ...
Hay Fever
MEADVILLE 04/19/2007 through 04/22/2007 Written by Noel Coward, directed by Allegheny's Dan Crozier. Just in time for spring! Join the mad, theatrical...
Date of entry : Thursday 18 April 2007
Owners plan a makeover for Shanghai's Peace Hotel
International Herald Tribune - France
... attracting famous guests like Charlie Chaplin, General George Marshall of the United States, and the playwright Noel Coward, who completed his famous ...
Ben Solowey helped Noel Coward return to London in style when the ...
By David Leopold
Built as the New Theatre in 1903 by Sir Charles Wyndham to house his acting company, a 20 year old Noel Coward had his first play produced in the West End at the theater, I’ll Leave it to You in 1920. While the play was not a hit, ...
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Date of entry : Monday 26 March 2007
KC Rep casts a wide net KC Repertory Theatre targets a diverse ...
Kansas City Star - MO,USA
“A Marvelous Party” by Noel Coward, Feb. 29-March 23, Spencer Theatre. “Bad Dates” by Theresa Rebeck, Sept. 21-Oct. 21, Copaken Stage, 13th and Walnut. ...
See all stories on this topic
Noël Coward died March 25 1973 - Noel Coward, singer, songwriter, playwright, director, actor, filmmaker, novelist, and EMI Records artist, dies in Jamaica, West Indies at age 73
Date of entry : Saturday 24 March 2007
Hay Fever’ at Great Lakes is great ensemble acting
Cleveland Jewish News - Cleveland,OH,USA
At the close of Act I of “Hay Fever,” Noel Coward’s comedy soufflé about the eccentric, ill-mannered Bliss family, all the characters are taking tea, ...
Comedy blithely entertaining
St. Petersburg Times - St. Petersburg,FL,USA
TARPON SPRINGS - Noel Coward's witty and sophisticated comedy Blithe Spirit was declared a classic the moment it hit the English stage in 1941. ...
Theatre review: Relative Values
News Shopper - UK
Relative Values is one of Noel Coward's less familiar plays. But in many ways it exemplifies his craft. It contains the witty banter, which sparkles like ...
David Mamet GUEST PROGRAMMER on TCM
Filmjerk.com - Signal Hill,CA,USA
Beginning at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PST, Mamet will introduce several of his favorite movies, starting with Noel Coward’s war classic “In Which We Serve”. ...
The afterlife is full of 'Spirit'
Staten Island Advance - Staten Island,NY,USA
Noel Coward's best-known comedy is written in three acts with two scheduled intermissions. The entire show, which clocked in at three hours, ...
Date of entry : Thursday 20 March 2007
BROADWAY MUSICALS OF 1929 – PROMO
BAYVIEW RECORDING COMPANY
New Release: March 23, 2007
THE BROADWAY MUSICALS OF 1929
(Bayview RNBW038)
1929 was one of the darkest years in the history of the United States with the spectacular Wall Street crash on October 29th, but on Broadway it was a spectacular year, with over fifty-two musicals shows opening and launching some of the finest songs in the Great American Songbook. “With A Song In My Heart,” “What Is This Thing Called Love?” “More Than You Know,” “Without A Song,” “Button Up Your Overcoat,” and “Moanin’ Low,” are just some of the standards that were born on Broadway in that year. With a composer and lyricist roster that included; Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, Vincent Youmans, Noel Coward, Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein 2, Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz, it’s no wonder the music and lyrics were remarkable. Bringing this year to vibrant life is a cast of stellar Broadway and Cabaret artists; Emily Skinner, Christine Andreas, Nancy Anderson, Ron Bohmer, Bryan Batt, Leslie Anderson, Noah Racey and Jeffry Denman, who all put their individual stamp on these classy songs. With accompaniment by Ross Patterson and his Little Big Band, and a witty and incisive narration by Scott Siegel, this is a twenty-one track album of sheer joy!
'Alluring Broadway diva Christine Andreas revealed the talent to amuse and the core of a ‘hymn for what might have been’ with ‘If Love Were All’… With a breezy dash of song-and-dance vaudeville spirit, Noah Racey re-created the jaunty, jilted resignation of ‘I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan’.” Robert L. Daniels, Variety
“Leslie Anderson, with a gift for the comic, stressed the sarcastic in her rendition of ‘My Husband’s First Wife’ from the Jerome Kern- Oscar Hammerstein show ‘Sweet Adeline,’ and turned on the resentment at being dumped by men in ‘Can’t We Be Friends?’ by Paul James and Kay Swift from ‘The Little Show’.” William Wolf, Wolf Entertainment Guide
Tracks:
I Can’t Remember The Words* MURRAY ANDERSON’S ALAMANAC (Jack Yellen/Milton Agar/Henry Lodge) Nancy Anderson, Emily Skinner, Bryan Batt, Noah Racey, Jeffry Denman, Leslie Anderson
Liza SHOW GIRL (George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin/Gus Kahn) Bryan Batt
You Don’t Know Paree FIFTY MILLION FRENCHMEN (Cole Porter) Christine Andreas
My Husband’s First Wife SWEET ADELINE (Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein 2) Leslie Anderson
Why Can’t I? SPRING IS HERE (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart) Emily Skinner, Nancy Anderson
I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan THE LITTLE SHOW (Arthur Schwartz/Howard Dietz) Noah Racey
Find Me A Primitive Man FIFTY MILLION FRENCHMEN (Cole Porter) Emily Skinner
It’s You I Love** SONS O’ GUNS (Arthur Swanstrom/Benny Davis/Fred Coots) Nancy Anderson
Moanin’ Low** THE LITTLE SHOW (Howard Dietz/Ralph Rainger) Mary Bond Davis
Without A Song** GREAT DAY (Vincent Youmans/William Rose/Edward Eliscu) Ron Bohmer
If Love Were All BITTER SWEET (Noel Coward) Christine Andreas
I May be Wrong But I Think You’re Wonderful MURRAY ANDERSON’S ALMANAC (Harry Ruskin/Henry Sullivan) Nancy Anderson, Bryan Batt
Can’t We Be Friends THE LITTLE SHOW (Paul James/Kay Swift) Leslie Anderson
A Ship Without A Sail HEADS UP (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart) Christine Andreas, Ron Bohmer
More Than You Know** GREAT DAY (Vincent Youmans/William Rose/Edward Eliscu) Emily Skinner
I Want To Be Bad FOLLOW THRU (B.G.DeSylva/Lew Brown/Ray Henderson) Nancy Anderson
I’m A Gigolo WAKE UP AND DREAM (Cole Porter) Bryan Batt
What Is This Thing Called Love? WAKE UP AND DREAM (Cole Porter) Ron Bohmer
You Got That Thing FIFTY MILLION FRENCHMEN (Cole Porter) Mary Bond Davis
With A Song In My Heart SPRING IS HERE (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart) Company
Button Up Your Overcoat FOLLOW THRU (B.G.DeSylva/Lew Brown/Ray Henderson) Company
* Premiere Recording
** Unplugged Performances
Musical Director: Ross Patterson
Director: Gabriel Barre
Produced for CD: Peter Pinne
Available March 23, 2007
In the U.S. @:
Bayview Records 1-310-314-6462
www.bayviewrecords.com
Footlight 1-718-963-0750
www.footlight.com
Borders
www.borders.com
U.S. Distribution: Original Cast records 1-888-627-3993
www.originalcastrecords.com
In England @:
Dress Circle 44-20-7240-2227
www.dresscircle.co.uk
UK Distribution: Silver Sounds 44-19-9255-4418
www.silversounds.co.uk
In Australia @:
Middle Eight Music 61-3-9866-1222
www.middle8.com
Date of entry : Tuesday 14 November 2006
The Stage Is Bigger, but It Still Can’t Hold All Her Ambition
New York Times - United States
... Mr. Beane has a linguistic talent that peaked with post-World War I playwrights like Philip Barry and Noël Coward: the gift for making spoiled, shallow people ..
Elvis Presley - The Ed Sullivan Shows
DVD Talk - Portland,OR,USA
... Laughton is an absolute scream, trying to dole out Noel Coward witticisms to a bunch of teenyboppers who are on the edge of hysteria, waiting for Elvis. ...
Uncyclopedia Rocks!
By Jew 90
“It makes me feel so patriotic to see the Union Jack worn so proudly by some tattooed, skinheaded thug with anger management issues.” Noel Coward on BNP.
Jew 90 - Super Agent - http://jew90.blogspot.com
Private Lives: Noel Coward
This is an extract of "Private Lives" I apologize for sloppy content. Noel Coward being the lyrical genius he is, sloppy phrases aside. Noel: What are you doing here? Amanda: I'm on my hon...
Excuse me, but can I be you for... - http://blog.myspace.com/marrakesh_express
Date of entry : Thursday 20 April 2006
Cabaret comes to Ten Chimneys
When Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne were the first couple of American theater, they hosted intimate evenings of song in the drawing room at their Ten Chimneys estate in Genesee Depot. Noel Coward was often seated at a Steinway piano that had been colorfully painted in mural scenes, and the guest list ranged from Helen Hayes and Laurence Olivier to Montgomery Clift and Katharine Hepburn. More info...
Englishman abroad
With its wit, precision and sheer outrageousness, Noël Coward's Hay Fever is often seen as a quintessentially English comedy. But, as Simon Callow reveals, the writer's first masterpiece was actually drawn from his wild American days Wednesday April 19, 2006
The Guardian...
Date of entry : Sunday 2 April 2006
During the last few weeks I seem to have spent an interminable age transferring vinyl recordings on to the NCS computer and thereby ‘digitising’ them - a term that has a slightly salacious ring about it but in fact may be one of the most important things I will do for the Society this year... surely not I hear you cry (all three of you) no truly... let me explain.
Last month Alan Farley spotted an item on eBay, the ubiquitous virtual auction house that that dominates our selling habits here in Norfolk (I have it as a fact that Norfolk people are the leading users of eBay in the UK - hardly a flat market then!) The item was a collection of 17, 13” recordings that were made in 1946 for Noël’s Radio broadcasts by Harry Alan Towers. Thanks to Alan’s generosity we were able to purchase the recordings for the Society.
There is one recording of ‘Uncle Harry’ by Noël Coward that contains the alternative lyrics that are noted in Barry Day's ‘Complete Lyrics' this particular recording may not have been heard before. There is an orchestral overture (medley) and songs by Graham Payn, Joyce Grenfell and one other female singer that has not, as yet, been identified. The 17 discs came with their original metal box for protection.
In 1999 Flapper brought out a compilation of extracts from various radio broadcasts made by Coward. Alan Farley and Dominic Vlasto the writers of The Noël Coward Music Index have allowed me to hear a much larger set of recordings of Coward’s broadcasts amongst which are some of the tracks on the purchased recordings. ‘Uncle Harry’ is included in this compilation but the orchestral accompaniment appears to be different. We are still investigating so as we progress with this project Dominic Vlasto will have more to say about these recordings and Coward’s radio broadcasts in general.
As if this were not enough the Society has spent some time considering whether we will be able to issue a private recording we hold of the Midnight Matinee celebration of Coward’s 70th birthday that took place on 16th December, 1969 at the Phoenix Theatre, London. The show was compered by Richard Attenborough and Robert Morley and follows Coward’s career as described in Sheridan Morley’s Coward biography. It uses Noël’s prose, verse and songs and new variations of some of his best known works, amended for the night! Over 120 musicians, actors, singers and theatre staff took part with notable perfomances by Irene Worth, Danny La Rue, Susannah York, Richard Briers, Joyce Grenfell, Michael Denison, William Blezzard, Peter Graves, Tony Britton, Celia Johnson, Mark Wynter, Stanley Holloway, Pat Kirkwood, Patricia Routledge, Elisabeth Welch, Maggie Fitzgibbon, Jessie Matthews, Una Stubbs, Cliff Richard, Cleo Laine and Johnny Dankworth, the list is almost endless.
In recent months we have received a copy of a radio broadcast of Red Peppers given to Ken Starrett, who presented copies to all those members who attended the Coward birthday celebrations in New York last year. This is now on the Members’ Page of the website as are copies of Alan Farley’s famed birthday broadcasts of Coward and his work and his noted January 2006 special on Graham Payn following his sad death last year.
So for the next few months we shall stay immersed in vinyl and digital transfer - a modern process to bring to life the splendours of the theatre and radio past of Noël Coward. I can think of worse things to do!
I had never seen Coward’s play Nude With Violin until the ‘Great Hall - theatre in the round’ performed it in mid-March. It was a successful production with some notable performances. Vernon Brooks in the Coward/Gielgud role of Sebastien was stolid and showed exceptional flair with the multi-lingual requirements of the part, Georgette Vale as Marie-Celeste was an absolute joy - she could not have been more French - is she a French native? - she certainly ought to be. Matthew Pinkerton who I saw play Crestwell in The Maddermarket production of Relative Values last year was redoubtable. The ‘jewel of a part’ Cherry-May Waterton appears after the interval. Tracey Rimmer played her long, lustful looks at Fabrice to perfection! A great evening and well-performed ‘in the round’ in a set replete with desirable antique furniture.
Cast
Sebastien Lacreole ......................................Vernon Brooks
Marie-Celeste ............................................. GeorgetteVale
Clinton Preminger Junior ........................... Peter Daniel
Isobel Sorodin ............................................ Myra Burgess
Jane Sorodin ............................................... Anna Wakefield
Colin Sorodin ............................................. Matthew Pinkerton
Pamela Sorodin .......................................... Kar Oakley
Jacob Friedland .......................................... Terry Card
Anya Pavlikov ............................................ Elva Pryal
Cherry-May Waterton ................................ Tracey Rimmer
Fabrice ........................................................ Dan De Dozsa
George ........................................................ Dave Shiret
Lauderdale .................................................. Jake Gover
Ollie Taylor
Directed by Peter James
Date of entry : Saturday 18 February 2006
The memorial service for Graham Payn will take place at St. Paul's, The Actor's Church in Covent Garden on Friday, June 30th, 2006.
Avenue Q to Play London's New Noël Coward Theatre - Original Broadway star John Tartaglia in Avenue Q.
Avenue Q , the Tony-winning Broadway musical featuring a mix of humans and puppets, will be the first show to be staged in impresario Cameron Mackintosh ’s revamped Noël Coward Theatre, currently the Albery.
Avenue Q previews for nearly a month, starting June 1, with an official opening night on June 28. More info...
Date of entry : Monday 06 February 2006
'Closer encounters If only Brief Encounter was a bit more up-to-date'. John Patterson suggests some improvements for the Brit classic on Guardian Unlimited.
It never ceases to amaze me that in an age when we are told the young know nothing about Noël Coward, the media use his name on an almost daily basis - here are some examples:
Baritone Hvorostovsky flexes muscles in Russian program
Sun-Sentinel.com - Fort Lauderdale,FL,USA
... As Noel Coward observed, it's extraordinary how potent cheap music can be. That allure is profoundly magnified in wartime, when ...
MOVIE REVIEW; `Imagine' a Sappy Sapphic Flick
International News Service - Sydney,Australia
... Rachel, on the other hand, has another reaction entirely. I wish I could say the ghost of Noel Coward hovers over these proceedings. ...
Sexual Perversity Is the Least of It
New York Times - United States
... Coolly eviscerating her husband as both human being and artist, she spoils the nouveau-Noël Coward mood with pronouncements like "Has it never occurred to you ...
Date of entry : Monday 30 January 2006
The following was taken from the marvellous party egroup email:
THE NOEL COWARD AUDIO COLLECTION - Caedmon
"I also found it hard to resist a box of recordings many of us have had for years, but Caedmon has just reissued as a $29.95 (list) box set [THE NOEL COWARD AUDIO COLLECTION; 6 hours on 5 CDs "performed by Coward and Simon Jones"]. The set includes two short stories by Coward ("Cheap Excursion" and "The Kindness of Mrs. Radcliffe"), several poems and the
recordings Coward made with Margaret Leighton of BRIEF ENCOUNTER, scenes from BLITHE SPIRIT, PRESENT LAUGHTER, the "Interlude" from Shaw's THE APPLE CART and more from Coward's "Collected Verse." Several of these are Original London and Broadway cast performances, though the absolutely minimal liner notes do not point this out. If you've never heard them, the play exerpts - especially the Shaw - are indispensable treats of the first rank. Thank you, Caedmon." Jeff Carey - Australia
Valentine's Day suggestion from Taiwan News:
One of the great hotel legends of the world is Round Hill Hotel & Villas in Montego, Jamaica. Round Hill, a former sugar, pineapple, allspice and coconut plantation, is steeped in history and tradition. No, it's not one of those snazzy all-inclusive resorts that pepper the island (although all-inclusive rates are available), but more laid-back, quiet and elegant with its lush gardens and cozy villas. Playing host over the years to Noel Coward, John F. Kennedy, and Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Round Hill is one of the Caribbean's treasures. With Valentine's Day packages that include chocolate truffles, you can't go wrong with a stay here. Contact Round Hill at 1-800-972-2159 or visit www.roundhilljamaica.com. Air Jamaica (www.airjamaica.com) flies from several U.S. gateways into Montego Bay.
PRIVATE LIVES - Theatre Royal -Bath Tour - David Haig's Production.
30 Jan to 4 Feb at The Theatre Royal, Glasgow
The theatre critic Kenneth Tynan commended Noel Coward's arch and bitchy tale about two of the most selfish characters in drama as "taking the fat off English comic dialogue". And there certainly isn't a superfluous word to be had in this West End production of Coward's sparkling battle of the sexes.
Coward's premise of pitching a divorced couple, now honeymooning with their new and considerably younger spouses, on adjoining balconies in the seaside town of Deauville is filled with comic potential.
Alas, the initially horrified exes, Amanda and Elyot, discover that their passion for each other is rekindled in the hedonistic summer air and quickly proceed to Amanda's Parisian flat where they soon resume their marital slanging match with equally renewed enthusiasm.
Scaldingly vitriolic with a darker underbelly that exposes the superficiality and self-obsessed nature of the upper classes in the inter-war period, Coward's play still manages to inject a poignant note into the proceedings.
Directed by David Haig, of The Thin Blue Line and Four Weddings and a Funeral fame, and starring TV stalwarts Julian Wadham and Belinda Lang, this production is well on target.
Also worth noting, given the considerable amount of time devoted to smoking cigarettes in Coward's text, is the fact that Private Lives may fall by the theatrical wayside when Scotland's ban on smoking in public places kicks in at the end of March. See it while you can.
Theatre Royal, Glasgow (0141-332 9000) Monday to Saturday, 7.30pm
Date of entry : Friday 27 January 2006
I sent off for some Maude Maggart CDs from the US and on the reply confirming the order from CDbaby.com I got this:
Your CDs have been gently taken from our CD Baby shelves with
sterilized contamination-free gloves and placed onto a satin pillow.
A team of 50 employees inspected your CDs and polished them to make
sure they were in the best possible condition before mailing.
Our packing specialist from Japan lit a candle and a hush fell over
the crowd as he put your CDs into the finest gold-lined box that
money can buy.
We all had a wonderful celebration afterwards and the whole party
marched down the street to the post office where the entire town of
Portland waved 'Bon Voyage!' to your package, on its way to you, in
our private CD Baby jet on this day, Thursday, January 26th.
I hope you had a wonderful time shopping at CD Baby. We sure did. Your picture is on our wall as "Customer of the Year". We're all
exhausted but can't wait for you to come back to CDBABY.COM!
Date of entry : Wednesday 25 January 2006
Elizabeth Sharland in Paris
Society members and author Elizabeth Sharland will be in Paris with a tour of her own at the same time as our own Society visit. She hopes to arrange for a
launch of her latest book A Theatrical Feast in Paris whilst our visit is taking place. There is a chapter in the book by NCS member and host for our visit, Hélène Catsiapis.To order her book via telephone 1-800-252-5231 or visit amazon.com or amazon.co.uk See our News page for details or www.sharland.com
Date of entry : Monday 23 January 2006
In an interview in The Buffalo News Elaine Stritch talks about her life including a short anecdote from Coward about obituaries...
At Wayne State University Theater in
Detroit students will be performing "Private Lives," by Noel Coward, from Oct. 6-Nov. 30
From Henderson, Kentucky...
Henderson Community Theatre will hold auditions on Jan. 30 and Jan. 31 for Noel Coward's "Fallen Angels." This comedy features Coward's typical wit along with a look at marriage, lost love and friendship -- all, of course, very upper-class British. Those interested may audition on either night beginning at 6 p.m. at the Henderson Fine Arts Center. Auditioners will be asked to do cold readings of selected scenes.
Director Sharon Burton expects to cast three women, two aged 25-40 and one 25-65, and three men, all aged 25-45. Two of the women need to play piano, though not necessarily expertly, and all should be able to adopt an English accent. The men will need to adopt either an English accent or a French accent. "Fallen Angels" will rehearse on Monday and Thursday evenings from 6-9 p.m. Performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 7 and 8. For further information, call Burton at 831-9646 or e-mail her at sharon.burton@kctcs.edu.
Date of entry : Sunday 22 January 2006
In an interview in the Daily Telegraph Arts Section Joan Collins reveals a royal anecdote on Coward:
Collins has claimed she's never dated a man over the age of 40. In Gibson (her present husband) she's found a young one who shares her rather old-fashioned showbiz tastes. While she's funny and unsnobbish - and, paradoxically, rather grand, curled like a pasha in her armchair - she's also not entirely of this century. Not for Collins the democratically casual lifestyle of newer stars. She wears diamonds in the afternoon, summers in St Tropez and hangs with a gang that has included, at various times, Liza Minnelli, Gregory Peck and Noël Coward.
Then there was Princess Margaret - they weren't bosom buddies, but she did "come to my house a few times". She remembers the night Margaret came to see her while she was starring in a revival of Coward's Private Lives. "Afterwards she came back and said, 'I re-read the play this afternoon, and you were very true to the text.' Imagine that, actually reading a play you were going to see that night. I thought that was amazing."
Date of entry : Thursday 19 January 2006
From The Daily Telegraph online:
Dear Hilary,
My son - a blond hunk of 19, who's 6ft 2in, and otherwise sane - desires a Noel Coward-style smoking jacket. The only smoking jackets that I have been able to find look almost like dressing-gowns, and he wants something more structured, in quilted velvet, with lapels. I've tried theatrical costumiers, but with no success. Viv, Burton-on-Trent
Dear Viv,
As this could be a passing phase and, since your son is only 19, I'm assuming you will not want to spend hundreds of pounds on a designer smoking jacket.
May I suggest a cheap-chic alternative? Rokit, the vintage specialists (020 7267 3046; www.rokit.co.uk) has a 42in navy silk paisley smoking jacket, with quilted lapels, for £70.
Alternatives include a version in mustard cord, size 40 (which may be a little bit on the tight side if he is a "hunk") at £50, and a more roomy style in red checked cord, size 44in, at £45.
No comment....
Date of entry : Wednesday 18 January 2006
Actress Rachel Weisz has collected a best supporting actress award at the Golden Globes, in what looks set to be a rather productive year. She was acclaimed for her role in political thriller The Constant Gardener, for which she is tipped for an Oscar nomination. Born in London in March 1971, Weisz - pronounced "Vice" - became a child model at the age of 14. She attended a series of schools including the prestigious St Paul's Girls School in London, with classmate and fellow actress Emily Mortimer. As a teenager Weisz decided she wanted to act and at the age of 18 she studied with Rada-trained Ken Campbell. While studying English Literature at Cambridge University, Weisz helped form Talking Tongues theatre company.
Weisz played activist Tessa Quayle in The Constant Gardener After writing and performing numerous pieces, their final play - Slight Possession - won a Guardian award at the Edinburgh Festival.
When they took the show to London's National Theatre it was seen by director Sean Mathias, who cast Weisz in his revival of Noel Coward's Design For Living at Gielgud Theatre. Her performance won Weisz the most promising newcomer title at the London Critics' Circle Awards.
Date of entry : Friday 13 January 2006
On 17th Jan at 9.00 pm in San Francisco there is a showing of Noel Coward in the Scoundrel (35), co-directed by Hecht and MacArthur, who wrote the Oscar-winning original screenplay about an egocentric publisher challenged to find just one person who cares about him. (1/17) It is part of the 4th Noir Film Festival at the Palace of Fine Arts.
Date of entry : Monday 9 January 2006
Maddermarket Theatre in Norwich is about to do a production of ‘Brief Encounter’. The production will run from Thursday 19 January to Saturday 28 January. The Maddermarket Theatre website has details of times and prices at www.maddermarket.co.uk The Society was last involved during Judi Daykin’s production of ‘Relative Values’ at the Maddermarket in January 2005.
Date of entry : Friday 6 January 2006
The First Folio Shakespeare Festival of Oak Brook, Illinois will be producing Private Lives in February/March. Running from 2/15 to 3/19 presented by the First Folio Shakespeare Festival
located on the grounds of the Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook, Illinois 60523 Call 630-986-8067 for tickets www.firstfolio.org
The Balcony Scene - an interesting review and commentary on Coward's Privat Lives currently revived by Long Wharf Theatre, New Haven, CT(which begins performances Jan. 11).
Regardless of the visual images the name conjures up, "Nude with Violin," the current play at the Murfreesboro/Rutherford County Center for the Arts, doesn't feature a group of scantily clad exhibitionists with stringed instruments. Director Bob Fish describes the Noel Coward play as "a sophisticated comedy with a lot of wit," but he doesn't want potential patrons to be turned off by his jargon.
"Let's steer away from the word 'sophisticated'," he says. "It appeals to the erudite urban misfit, or everyone who wants to laugh."
"Nude with Violin" is in production at the arts center Jan. 12-15 and Jan. 19-12.
Lakeland Players, a non-profit organization and community theater group located in Waterford, Michigan is pleased to announce its latest production "Blithe Spirit." Shows on Jan. 20, 21, 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m. Location at Central United Methodist Church, 3882 Highland in Waterford. Tickets are $9, $8 for student/senior. BO: (248) 698-6977.
Date of entry : Tuesday 3 January 2006
After an acclaimed extended fall engagement at the Cafe Carlyle, Tony Award winner Elaine Stritch returns to the posh nightclub for another lengthy run Jan. 3. With songs by Stephen Sondheim, Cole Porter, Jerry Herman and Noël Coward, Elaine Stritch will present At Home at the Carlyle through Feb. 4. The Emmy Award-winning performer's new show features musical direction by Rob Bowman. Stritch is backed by a six-piece band comprising Bowman on piano, Lou Bruno on bass, Dave Gale on trumpet, Jack Gale on trombone, Paul Pizzuti on drums and Les Scott on reeds. At Home at the Carlyle boasts all-new material for the actress, who also recounts stories about her illustrious show-business career.
Date of entry : Monday 2 January 2006
At Keswick's delightful Theatre by the Lake this season the three plays in the Main House are Private Lives by Noel Coward, Loot by Joe Orton and The Deep Blue Sea by Terence Rattigan. Booking for the summer season begins on April 1, but bookings for other events opens on January 2.
Noel Coward wrote in his journal about a New Year’s Party that ended with a skinny dip in a pool and a young actress suddenly jumping up on the sidewalk and starting shadow-boxing, taunting the new year. “Come on, 1962,” she said. “Just try it. I’ll get you. Come on! I’m ready!”
Date of entry : Wednesday 28 December 2005
One man show about Noël Coward called "A Talent to Amuse" with Gary Briggle as Noel Coward 12/29/05 - 1/8/06, 7:30 Fri-Sat; 2 Sun , Skylight Opera Theatre, Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202 414-291-7800
Date of entry : Tuesday 27 December 2005
From: The Independent online - As an actress of considerable standing, Dame Judi Dench would have every right to believe that performing with former soap stars is beneath her dignity. It is to her great credit, therefore, that a long-awaited return to the West End will co-star the EastEnders stalwart Kim Medcalf.
"I'm going to be playing Judi Dench's daughter in the Noel Coward play Hay Fever," Medcalf tells me. "It'll also have Peter Bowles and Belinda Lang in it."
The play opens in April and will be directed by Sir Peter Hall. He's said to have been "very struck" by Medcalf when auditioning her at his London home.
"It's obviously daunting working with Peter, but that's nothing compared to sharing a stage with Judi Dench [left]," she adds. "I've not met her yet, but obviously hope to learn lots from her."
The casting is also of significance to EastEnders anoraks. Apparently, it scotches rumours that Medcalf's character, Sam - currently in Rio de Janeiro, for legal reasons - will shortly return to the show.
Date of entry : Monday 26 December 2005
Today a play about the relationship between Noël Coward and his favourite author Edith Nesbit born on 19th August, 1858. The play is entitled The Master and Mrs Tucker By Roy Apps. Broadcast 14:15-15:00 (Radio 4 FM) and available to be heard again here...
Cast:
Noel Coward ...... Guy Henry
E Nesbit ...... Ann Bell
Mrs Coward ...... Rosemary Leach
Mr Cook ...... Niall Buggy
Mrs Cook ...... Sylvestra Le Touzel
The Skipper ...... Michael Jayston
Hotel Manager ...... Ian Masters
Beatrice ...... Nicola Barber
Songs sung by Thomas Spencer Wortley
Music played by Mike Sykes
Director Celia De Wolff.
Date of entry : Saturday 24 December 2005
 Broadway’s Tom Hewitt will star as Elyot in the upcoming Long Wharf Theatre, New Haven, CT staging of Noël Coward’s comedy Private Lives. Website
Date of entry : Friday 23 December 2005
A very interesting webpage by Dover Museum on Coward and his life at Whitecliffs where he lived when Goldenhurst was requisitioned by the army.
Dover Museum article on Coward
Date of entry : Thursday 22 December 2005
Marvelopus Party at the Northlight Theatre in Chicago has started - to see a review of the revue Click here...
Fallen Angels (radio)
Malibu resident Annette Bening will star in a radio drama on 89.3 KPCC that will air on Saturday 23 Dec. Los Angeles Theatre Works' "The Play's the Thing" will air Noel Coward's "Fallen Angels." Also staring in the play are Joe Mantegna and Judith Ivey. The broadcast will also include an interview with Mantegna.
From 2pm to 4pm on Saturday 14 January, the Auckland Salon Orchestra will be performing Palm Court music from the early 1900s through to the 1940s set in the beautiful surrounds of Alberton House, Mt Albert. The repertoire of light music and popular classics include, Edward Elgar's elegant Salut d'Amour, twentieth century favourites like Percy Grainger's Country Garden and Ketelby's In a Persian Market, glamorous musicals by Ivor Novello and Noel Coward, a dash of Viennese Strauss, Hungarian Lehar, Parisian Offenbach's CanCan, Victor Herbert, Friml and Kern, and tunes from Gershwin and Leroy Anderson.
Date of entry : Tuesday 20 December 2005
Well the celebrations are over for another year in both New York and the UK. Thanks to Ken Starrett who - as ever- was the best of hosts. A combination of the ultimate NYC tour guide, event planner and the sheer generosity and kindness of this man make him the best possible North American Director for the Society - thanks Ken for everything! Thanks also to Barry Day and Geoffrey Johnson and to Alan Brodie who as the worldwide representative of the Coward name and estate has presided over a period of huge success in every aspect of the Coward Estate and Foundation's work. Next year looks like being even more exciting with the revival of Hay Fever directed by Sir Peter Hall and starring Dame Judi Dench that opens on 19th April at The Haymarket in the West End with a cast including; Peter Bowles, Belinda Lang, Kim Metcalf, Dan Stevens, Charles Edwards. The Bath Theatre Royal production of Private Lives goes on tour across the UK starring Belinda Lang and followed by a tour of Present Laughter in March by the same company starring Simon Callow. John Doyle directs Masterpieces - a Coward revue later in the year. There will also be a professional production of Tonight at 8.30 and possibly Design For Living. The Albery Theatre takes on its new mantle as The Noël Coward Theatre at some time during the year.
Date of entry : Sunday 18 December 2005
After a busy day in London yesterday I hear today on BBC4's Desert Island Discs - Let's Do It - Coward style at Las Vegas - the choice of artist Maggi Hambling. Sir David Frost chose Mad Dogs and Englishmen just three weeks ago as the first item in his selection.
At 5.00 am GMT Saturday I started the day with Alan Farley's Noël Coward Special on KALW
in San Francisco. The highlights were: a section on the CD we feature on the site of the last British recording Coward made and the recordings of Harry Noble. This was followed by a special recording of six pieces from Bitter Sweet transcribed for string trio - by the time they reach Zigeuner I am in tears - beautiful and what a great start to a day spent in London where the Coward birthday events went off so well.
The AGM of the Society at the Theatre Museum, Covent Garden saw a well-attended meeting discussing the past year's activities and looking at improvements for next year - more on this as they happen. The flower-laying celebrations for Sir Noël Coward's birthday were marked with memorable recollections from Dame Maggie Smith and Society Vice-Chairman Sheridan Morley. Graham Payn was much in our thoughts - his significance for the Society was lovingly included in Sheridan's remarks. These two speeches will be transcribed and included here. The Annual Luncheon at The Ivy saw 80 members enjoy a full lunch and the wonderful staging of Coward songs by Liz Robertson and her accompanist Denis King. A memorable day and the end of ten days of Coward celebrations in New York and London.
Date of entry : Saturday 17 December 2005
New York is the town where Nathan Lane lives, and where he paid his dues after arriving from New Jersey in the late 1970s, working his way up through small productions to his 1982 Broadway debut, Noel Coward's Present Laughter, where he stole the spotlight from George C Scott.
The Seattle Repertory Theatre has shuffled its 2005-06 season lineup, replacing the world premiere musical "Temple" with a production of "Private Lives," a classic Noel Coward comedy of manners about a bickering divorced couple who find out they are still in love. It will play March 2 through April 1.
When a reporter for the London newspaper The Sun asked Noel Coward, "Have you anything to say to the Sun?" Coward replied, "Shine."
Date of entry : Thursday 8 December 2005
Tomorrow a party of NCS members leaves for New York to join in with the Coward Birthday Celebrations and the ceremony to create The Noël Coward Suite at The Algonquin. More on this on their return.
Three items from the 'net about Coward and Coward revivals.
On this day in
1918 It's a Scandal was on at London's Strand Theatre. This Cosmo Hamilton comedy exposes a woman pretending to be married to a gentleman. Kyrle Bellew and Noel Coward star. Source: Playbill.com
Meanwhile in Jersusalem the happy trio from Design For Living are performing in a new revival - the ever-adventurous Gesher theater is tackling the most British of playwrights, Noel Coward. His sophisticated comedy "Design for Living" is the story of a frolicsome, talented and unconventional threesome, Leo (Yehezkel Lazarov), Otto (Israel Demidov) and Gilda (Efrat Ben-Zur), whose romantic relationships are "a three-sided erotic hodgepodge" as one character puts it. Coward himself played Leo when the play debuted on Broadway in 1933. The Gesher production, directed by Lena Kreindlin will open January 14 at the Gesher Theater in Jaffa. Source: The Jerusalem Post. Meanwhile in Skokie in the US...
 A Marvelous Party: The Noël Coward Celebration.
From Left: Carl Danielsen, Anna Lauris and Mark Anders
Noël Coward's gossamer melodies and rueful lyrics — as well as his comic upbeat specialties — are heard anew in A Marvelous Party: The Noël Coward Celebration, making its Chicago area debut Dec. 7 in a co-production between Northlight Theatre and Geva Theatre.
The revue, created with the permission of the estate of the late songwriter and playwright, premiered at Geva in Rochester, NY, earlier this year and has had some tweaks and revisions leading up to its Skokie, IL, now at Northlight.
Stories drawn from Coward's writings are included in the show. With the permission of the Coward estate, the fresh revue was devised by David Ira Goldstein, Carl Danielsen, Mark Anders, and Patricia Wilcox with musical arrangements by Carl Danielsen.
Performances play to Jan. 8, 2006, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Boulevard, in Skokie. Opening is Dec. 10. Photo by Tim Fuller Source: Playbill.com
Constance Cummings, who died in England last week at the age of 95, made it in Hollywood in the '30s but never consistently landed the roles her talent deserved. To appreciate how good she was, you had to go to the theater, where she enjoyed a stellar career on Broadway and in the West End in the post-war years. But a good sample of what she brought to the screen is her charm and gift for comedy, on ample display in David Lean's film of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit (unrated, ***). The repartee-laden adaptation of Coward's hit play cast Cummings opposite Rex Harrison. He's a widowed novelist who is haunted and taunted by the spirit of his first wife following an ill-advised seance. Cummings is a perfect foil as the second wife. Philly.com
'Private Lives' does Noel Coward wrong
Theater review
Not all sparkling wines are alike. There is Veuve Cliquot and there is Spumante. In "Private Lives," Noel Coward wrote Veuve Cliquot. But at Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival, while the script still fizzes it's a less heady and potent comic refreshment. See: Cincinnati News Enquirer
Patrick Newley in today's Stage (1.12.2005) . He describes the flower-laying at Drury Lane to mark Noël Coward's birthday and also mentions the official opening of The Noël Coward Suite at The Algonquin on page 43.
On the BBC's Desert Island Discs this week (w/b November 28th) Sir David Frost was the guest - and made Mad Dogs and Englishmen his first selection. The programme cannot be heard again but details are still online. See: BBC Radio Four - Desert Island Discs
In the UK Mail On Sunday (23.10.2005) there was an article about the funeral of Mo Mowlam the much loved Labour politician and the Minister For Northern Ireland who brokered the Good Friday Agreement. She died on August 19, 2005 after a long battle against cancer. 'Mad Dogs And Englishmen' was one of the far from funereal choices she made for her final service. Details of the service were only released in late October. On Sunday 20 November there was a memorial called ‘An Evening with Mo and Friends’ which was held at the the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Her life was celebrated by a medley of comedy, music and personal reflections from friends and family. For more details visit www.momowlam.co.uk |