""Noël Coward is at the center of everything theatrical in Britain," Quinn explained. "He knew everyone," she said, "but also was influenced by everyone and influenced everyone—he played such a key cultural role." Yet, despite this extraordinary impact Coward had on the theatre world, and while there are many Coward enthusiasts today, "much of our scholarly attention has been focused on the main figures in American musical theatre, or focused on people from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s generation onward. ..."
nypl.org/blog/2022/02/14/new-f…
I learned about Noel Coward through my interest in Clifton Webb, who was friends with him. Then, I learned about Ivor Novello through Noel Coward! Now, I'm learning about even more people through the three of them! With their humour and wit, Web ad Coward both remind me of Beau Brummell. Maybe, that's why I enjoy them so much, but Webb and Brummell were both proper gentlemen, whereas in private, Coward could use obscenities that would make a sailor blush. What really stands out to me about Coward is that, unlike Novello, he was neither classically trained nor well-educated. Everything he did was his own.
Anyway, this is a bit old, but I do wonder what new research has been done since then. I recently saw a wonderful documentary, called Mad About The Boy, which told the story of Noel Coward, and best of all, contained interviews of people who knew him. As for me, I'm not really much for modern theatre. I start in the Regency (I've seen a few earlier plays, too), enjoy the great operettas and Gilbert and Sullivan, and then, this lovely lot of characters. The singing today just can't compare, unless you go to the opera, and many of the storylines leave much to be desired. I would love to be proven wrong. I would also love to find performances of the old shows that aren't modernized in language and plot!
To medical professionals, there may be different nuances here. This is the popular understanding.
I'm not religious or superstitious, but this is very odd. Ivor Novello died in 1951 of a heart attack. Noel Coward, one of his best friends, died in 1973, 51 years ago, of a heart attack. Christopher Hassall, Novello's librettist, died in 1963, at the age of 51, also of a heart attack! Breakin the 51 theme but remaining with the health one, Clifton Webb, friend of Coward, died of a heart attack, as did both Gilbert and Sullivan, who influenced Novello! As for Hassall, I now have all sorts of lovely things to download from him! His RP accent is absolutely beautiful, as are his tones, and he is very much worth seeking out.
#ChristopherHassall #CliftonWebb #GilbertandSullivan #heartattack #IvorNovello #NoelCoward