Oh, Coward! is a musical revue in two acts devised by Roderick Cook and containing music and lyrics by Noël Coward. The revue consists of two men and one woman in formal dress, performing songs based on the following themes: England, family album, travel, theatre, love and women.[1] There are also sketches, such as "London Pastoral" which tells of the joys of London in the spring, "Family Album" about relatives who "were not excessively bright", and a scene with excerpts from several of Coward's plays, such as Private Lives.[2]
It ran Off-Broadway in 1972, in London in 1975 and on Broadway in 1986. Also in 1972 a revue along similar lines, Cowardy Custard played in London.
A Coward revue at the 1968 Vancouver International Festival called And Now Noël Coward…: An Agreeable Impertinence, was created and directed by Roderick Cook and starred Dorothy Loudon. It received scathing reviews from the critics. It was soon revised and presented on Broadway, with mostly the same cast, as Noël Coward's Sweet Potato. Though it received slightly better notices, it lasted only 44 performances.[3] Cook again reshaped the material, as Oh, Coward!, premiering the work in Toronto, then touring it to Boston and Chicago.[4]
Oh, Coward! opened Off-Broadway with a new cast on 4 October 1972 and was one of the last Noël Coward shows staged during his life. It played for 294 performances at the New Theatre. Its cast included Barbara Cason, Jamie Ross and Cook, who also directed the revue. A London production opened on 5 June 1975 at the Criterion Theatre, starring Cook, Ross and Geraldine McEwan, and ran until 2 August 1975.[5] The show later played on Broadway beginning on 17 November 1986 at the Helen Hayes Theatre, where it ran for 56 performances. Again directed by and starring Cook, the cast also featured Catherine Cox and Patrick Quinn. The production received two Tony Award nominations, Best Actor and Actress in a Musical for Cook and Cox.
Of the London production, Michael Billington of The Guardian wrote, "the star performer is undeniably Mr Cook himself... with a dangerous tooth-baring smile... he delivers each syllable of each song with a clinical, omniscient precision. Geraldine McEwan, willowy and acidulous in white satin, likewise realises that merciless articulation is the key to Coward performing, and Jamie Ross amiably makes up the trio in the manner of someone completing a country house party."[6] The New York Times review of the 1986 production noted, "The performance is determinedly low-key and genteel, in keeping with its source. Neither in the selection of material nor in the performances does the show overstep into self-parody, as is often the case in other musical anthologies. As before, Mr. Cook lets Coward speak and sing for himself, which he does, trippingly."[7]
A review of the original cast recording compared it with the contemporary London show, Cowardy Custard: "The formula is much the same, a show made out of Noël Coward's writing and composing. Where it differs is that Cowardy Custard was a carefully co-ordinated revue, this is more of a cabaret entertainment, the songs being delivered by the three performers without, as far as one can judge from the recording, any attempt at staging, accompanied by two pianos, bass, drums and percussion... the Coward enthusiast will note the first recording ever of his early trio 'Bright Young People'."[8]
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Oh Coward is a musical revue in two acts devised by Roderick Cook and containing music and lyrics by Noel Coward The revue consists of two men and one woman in formal dress performing songs based on the following themes England family album travel theatre love and women 1 There are also sketches such as London Pastoral which tells of the joys of London in the spring Family Album about relatives who were not excessively bright and a scene with excerpts from several of Coward s plays such as Private Lives 2 It ran Off Broadway in 1972 in London in 1975 and on Broadway in 1986 Also in 1972 a revue along similar lines Cowardy Custard played in London Contents 1 Productions 2 Songs 3 References 4 External linksProductions editA Coward revue at the 1968 Vancouver International Festival called And Now Noel Coward An Agreeable Impertinence was created and directed by Roderick Cook and starred Dorothy Loudon It received scathing reviews from the critics It was soon revised and presented on Broadway with mostly the same cast as Noel Coward s Sweet Potato Though it received slightly better notices it lasted only 44 performances 3 Cook again reshaped the material as Oh Coward premiering the work in Toronto then touring it to Boston and Chicago 4 Oh Coward opened Off Broadway with a new cast on 4 October 1972 and was one of the last Noel Coward shows staged during his life It played for 294 performances at the New Theatre Its cast included Barbara Cason Jamie Ross and Cook who also directed the revue A London production opened on 5 June 1975 at the Criterion Theatre starring Cook Ross and Geraldine McEwan and ran until 2 August 1975 5 The show later played on Broadway beginning on 17 November 1986 at the Helen Hayes Theatre where it ran for 56 performances Again directed by and starring Cook the cast also featured Catherine Cox and Patrick Quinn The production received two Tony Award nominations Best Actor and Actress in a Musical for Cook and Cox Of the London production Michael Billington of The Guardian wrote the star performer is undeniably Mr Cook himself with a dangerous tooth baring smile he delivers each syllable of each song with a clinical omniscient precision Geraldine McEwan willowy and acidulous in white satin likewise realises that merciless articulation is the key to Coward performing and Jamie Ross amiably makes up the trio in the manner of someone completing a country house party 6 The New York Times review of the 1986 production noted The performance is determinedly low key and genteel in keeping with its source Neither in the selection of material nor in the performances does the show overstep into self parody as is often the case in other musical anthologies As before Mr Cook lets Coward speak and sing for himself which he does trippingly 7 A review of the original cast recording compared it with the contemporary London show Cowardy Custard The formula is much the same a show made out of Noel Coward s writing and composing Where it differs is that Cowardy Custard was a carefully co ordinated revue this is more of a cabaret entertainment the songs being delivered by the three performers without as far as one can judge from the recording any attempt at staging accompanied by two pianos bass drums and percussion the Coward enthusiast will note the first recording ever of his early trio Bright Young People 8 Songs editNote Partial list 2 Act 1Medley Something To Do With Spring Bright Young People Poor Little Rich Girl Zigeuner Let s Say Goodbye This Is A Changing World We Were Dancing Dance Little Lady A Room With A View Sail Away The End of the News The Stately Homes of England London Pride Family Album The Music Hall medley Chase Me Charlie Saturday Night at the Rose and Crown The Island of Bolamazoo What Ho Mrs Brisket Has Anybody Seen Our Ship Men About Town If Love Were All Why Do The Wrong People Travel Mrs Worthington Act 2 Mad Dogs and Englishmen A Marvelous Party You Were There I Am No Good At Love Sex Talk A Question of Lighting Mad About the Boy Nina In A Bar On The Piccola Marina World Weary Finale Medley Where Are The Songs We Sang Someday I ll Find You If Love Were All Play Orchestra Play References edit Flinn Denny Martin Little musicals for little theatres 2006 p 229 Hal Leonard Corporation ISBN 0 87910 321 3 a b Oh Coward at MTI Shows Bowie Stephen Dorothy and Noel Library for the Performing Arts 15 August 2012 Atkey Mel Broadway North The Dream of a Canadian Musical Theatre Natural Heritage Books 2006 p 88 ISBN 1897045085 The Guardian 6 June 1975 p 10 and 2 August 1975 p 7 The Guardian 6 June 1975 p 10 Gussow Mel Theatre Oh Coward is Revived The New York Times 18 November 1986 Myers Peter The Gramophone January 1974 p 110External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oh Coward Oh Coward at the Internet Broadway Database Oh Coward at the Lortel Archives Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Oh Coward amp oldid 1175832806, wikipedia, wiki, book, 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