by Noel Coward
Still, for a while it looked as though Noël were about to colonize Broadway as he had commandeered the West End. But the American production of Hay Fever opened in September and lasted precisely six weeks.
Noël met Gladys Calthrop (1894-1980) socially in the 1920s. She designed costumes and sets for his shows until the 1940s. Their friendship survived the professional “divorce,” and she was there at Buckingham Palace in 1970 when he became “Sir Noël.”
Easy Virtue—the first of his plays to have its premiere in the United States—opened on December 7 with Jane Cowl as the heroine, Larita, and with this one he did have a success. It was still running when Noël and his party boarded the SS Olympic the following March to return home. Basil Dean, having directed it, was now back in London, planning the English production.
The party that left was not precisely the party that had arrived the previous August. Jack Wilson was now aboard, in every sense of the word, but Gladys Calthrop had been left behind—at least for a while. The outward-bound shipboard friendship with Eva Le Galliennne had ripened, and Gladys had decided to stay on as art director of the actress's new Civic Repertory Theatre—or, as Noël dubbed it, the Civic Raspberry Company. Le Gallienne had by then broken up with Mercedes de Acosta, but whether she had begun an affair with Gladys at this time remains open to conjecture. De Acosta described Gladys as “that enchanting and beautiful person” when she first met her—a view she may have subsequently modified. A later (unsigned) cable that Gladys filed under “Eve Le Gallienne” would seem to provide a clue:
NEW YORK
JANUARY 27TH 1927
GLADYS CALTHROP 14 ST THEATRE 14 ST BETWEEN SIX AND
SEVEN
I HAVE MUCH TO SAY TO YOU THIS EVENING SO PLEASE COME
EARLY AND STAY LATE LAST NIGHT WATCHING YOU IN THE
DARKNESS YOU MADE ME THINK OF A BLACK TULIP AND GAVE
ME EXOTIC AND UNEASY DREAMS UNSIGNED
John Gielgud, who knew them all, recalled that at this period Gladys, Eva, Mercedes, and one other (possibly producer Cheryl Crawford) were known as “the Four Horsewomen of the Algonquin.”
•
BACK IN LONDON, Basil was preparing for the Manchester opening of Easy Virtue, Jane Cowl was to reprise her role in the play before opening in London at the Duke of York's Theatre.
But that was the easy part. The hard part was the title of the play and an incident that would set it apart in the Coward canon.
In Dean's letter of April 22:
A curious position has arisen with regard to Manchester by John Hart, who owns the theatre, refusing to sign the contract for a play of the title Easy Virtue, He says he thought the title was Easy Money] As I am committed to Jane, the Duke of York's Theatre and all the other artists, I had to insist on the date. The only way I could insist on it temporarily was to agree that we should produce the play in Manchester under some other title. On first thoughts you may gasp at this, but I think you will quickly realise that if we handle the situation properly, we can get a lot of added advertisement for the play, and at the same time make the Watch Committee of Manchester look ridiculous because, of course, everybody knows about the play by now. I am informed the reason for the objection is because the Watch Committee would not allow a play with such a title. However, in order to be quite sure about the position, I am endeavouring to get into touch with the Watch Committee, as I want them to commit themselves definitely to the statement that they will not allow the play to be produced under that title.
I can see a good deal of mischief in your eye as I dictate this letter!
Yours ever,
D
MAY 16TH
WHAT MEANING ALTERNATIVE MANCHESTER UTTERLY
BEWILDERED STOP NOëL
MAY 18TH
MANCHESTER WATCH COMMITTEE OBJECT TO TITLE AM SOLELY
ANNOUNCING NOëL COWARD'S NEW PLAY STOP WE WILL HAVE
GRAND FUN IN PAPERS ON YOUR RETURN STOP BASIL
And indeed they did have fun. Dean was right. People who might have been of two minds about attending now had to see what all the fuss was about. The play was billed as A New Play in Three Acts, Ironically, at the cinema next door—presumably beneath the attention of the eagle-eyed Watch Committee—the week's attraction was a film called Flames of Passion, as luridly advertised as its title demanded. Not being someone to throw such nuggets away, Noël stored this up for later use. As Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard leave the cinema in Brief Encounter, the poster for the film they have just been watching reads Flames of Passion,
•
EASY VIRTUE settled down into a solid run of 124 performances, and Jane Cowl's bravura performance caught the eye of various “mature” actresses around town.
Mrs. Patrick Campbell wrote:
August 27 th 1926
I have seen Easy Virtue three times…Miss Cowl tells me she must go back to New York Sept. 20th. Am I too old or too ugly to dare to suggest I might take up the part?…If you thought there was anything in it, I would eat dry bread until the 20th so that I was at any rate slimmer!
It was not the first time she'd petitioned Noël for work and, once again, he did not think there was “anything in it” and said so as politely as he knew how.
More pressing from Noël's point of view was his own commitment to Dean as an actor in someone else's play. The Constant Nymph was a popular and highly romantic novel by Margaret Kennedy. Kennedy and Dean had collaborated on a stage version, which was to open in September. Dean— in a maneuver typical of his authoritarian management style—offered the leading role of Lewis Dodd to John Gielgud, then changed his mind and decided that it would be better box office if Noël were to play the part for the first month of the run. Noël agreed, and once again, Gielgud was forced to play understudy, as he had in The Vortex,
Noël was anxious to see if he could succeed with someone else's material. The answer was—not very well and not for very long. Mrs. Patrick Campbell exacted her own retribution by telling him very publicly on opening night that he was “the wrong type” and suggesting he should wear a beard!
Edna Best (1900-1974) starred with Noël in The Constant Nymph (1926) and, thirty years later, on live television.
On October 7 his doctor wrote: “Mr. Coward has been examined by me this morning and is suffering from severe nervous exhaustion. He has been ordered by me to remain in bed and will not be fit to act for at least a month.”
John Gielgud took over once again.
It was a convenient exit strategy, and well within the proscribed month, he was to be found once again on the SS Olympic with Jack, en route to the United States to begin rehearsing This Was a Man, a new play he had written earlier in the year while in Palermo and which Dean was to direct.
To Violet:
January 14th
On Board S.S. Olympic
Cherbourg
Darling,
I did hate leaving you so dreadfully—and I cried for a half an hour with Jack trying to comfort me. I'm so very glad that you didn't come to the front door! Oh dear—I really ought to have got over being a mother's boy by now, but I never shall!
I'm so thankful we've got the cottage because it means peace for you and something to do to take your mind off missing me. Do take care of yourself, my own darling, and drive frightfully slowly and don't be depressed because I'm not going to be away for long and I'll write every week reg'lar.
I'll be at the Ritz Carlton anyhow to start with. Syrie [Maugham] sends you her love—the boat isn't at all full and we're very comfortable. I'm going to rest and rest and rest and not worry about anything.
Oh darling, all my love, love, love.
Snoop
Jack also felt it politic to write:
Dear Mrs. Coward,
Just a line to say goodbye and to thank you for being so nice to me this summer. I can't realize that I've been away from home six months, for you and Noël have been so sweet and kind that I dug right in and never had a moment of the lonely, alien, hom
esick feeling.
As a matter of fact it's a wrench to leave England—I somehow dread New York—it seems big and noisy and strangely foreign.
Please believe that I'll do all I can to keep Noël well and happy…My life is open to him and Mother would be very honored and happy to have him with us all.
Again, thanks and love
JACK
CHAPTER 5
“WHY MUST THE SHOW GO ON?”
(1926)
Why must the show go on?
Why not announce the closing night of it?
The public seem to hate the sight of it,
Dear, and so
Why you should undergo
This terrible strain we'll never know.
“WHY MUST THE SHOW GO ON?” (1954)
After the acclaim came the apprehension.
THE INSTANT SUCCESS of The Vortex lured him into thinking that anything that bore the legend “by Noël Coward” was automatically a guarantee of quality and success. Plays were written too quickly and uncritically. Others were retrieved unwisely from bottom drawers. But that was all to come.
Safely arrived in New York, Noël was as good as his filial word. Every week, regular as clockwork, he shared his life with Violet:
Gladstone Hotel
114-122 East 52nd Street
New York
Wednesday
Darlingest,
I moved in here today as I was uncomfortable at the Ritz—it's far too noisy and expensive but this is very quiet and nice.
The crossing was horrible as a crossing except for two days and practically everyone was ill but Syrie [Maugham] and Jack [Wilson] and I remained superior and healthy, if a trifle apprehensive! I slept 12 hours a night firmly and now feel thoroughly rested and well.
Noël on the SS Bremen (1933)— “I Travel Alone.”
This Was a Man goes into rehearsal next week with … a very good cast indeed. Gladys [Calthrop] is very gay…she has two first nights, one on Monday and one on Tuesday. I'm so glad I was in time for them….
I got your cable on arrival. I suspect The Rat Trap was far worse than “So-so.” I'm longing to get a letter about it.
Do go to Hatchard's and get A Deputy Was King by G. B. Stern and put it down to my account and read‘it—it's very good and she's done me in it! Rather well at moments.
Last night I went to lolanthe with Basil—it was beautifully done and the music lovely but dated. It's no use, I hate Gilbert and Sullivan.
All New York has rung me up and welcomed me, so I feel very cosy.
All my love, darlingest Snig
Your roving
Snoop.
His next letter (October 28) was written on the stationery of “Basil Dean Inc. Presenting English Plays in America, 1674 Broadway,” and scribbled at the top of the page:
Jack and I have a very grand office in this building with Noël Coward Inc. on the door in gold letters. It's very cheap, so we're going to keep it permanently—we must have somewhere to put our papers and contracts (all three!).
Darling,
I got your letter and the notices which I thought very good considering—thank God they all knew it was an early play. [In the post-Vortex euphoria, one of his first plays, The Rat Trap, had been put on at the Everyman. It did not rival The Vortex, running for only twelve performances.]
Everything is going very well here. I've got Francine Larrimore, A. E. Matthews and Nigel Bruce for This Was a Man, which is rehearsing now. It opens on the 22 nd November, probably at the Klaw. Francine Larrimore is a big star and very good and Matthews is grand. Nigel arrives tomorrow—it looks like a success to me! Ruth Gordon I think is going to do Fallen Angels as soon as I can find someone good to play it with her.
I went to Eva's [Le Gallienne] first night on Monday and it was more frightful than anything in the world. She was terrible, the production awful and the play lousy! Two of Gladys's sets were very good. The next night they did Tchekof's Three Sisters, which I hear is better and Gladys has made a big success with her scenery. She's very happy and working like a beaver and it's all good experience for her.
Everyone asks after you and sends you love, particularly Fanny Ward and Mabel Webb [Mabelle Webb, Clifton's extrovert mother]. I haven't heard from [Philip] Tonge yet [Noël's boy actor competitor who was now desperately seeking to become part of the Coward entourage] but I dread the telephone.
Alfred Lunt is marvelous in an historical play at the [Theatre] Guild [Juarez and Maximilian] and Lynn is playing in Mrs. Beame [At Mrs. Beame's] and rehearsing Mrs. Pat's [Campbell] part in Pygmalion. I love being here and I'm taking everything very easily and being a good boy—Jack sends dearest love and is looking after me beautifully.
All my love, dearest darling and don't miss me too much.
Snoop
Noël Coward, Inc.
Wednesday, November 3rd.
Darling,
I'm inaugurating my first day in our grand new office by writing to you! It is all very dignified and I feel extremely businesslike and prosperous. The opening date of This Was a Man has been advanced by a week—we open cold at the Klaw Theatre on Tuesday, December 16th—my lucky date [his birthday]! It really is coming on very well—they're all going to be frightfully good. Francine Larrimore particularly. She's small and red haired and very sexy and as far as I can gather has already made plans about every man in the cast, so she ought to be well in her element!
I'm still searching wildly for someone to play Fallen Angels with Ruth Gordon but it's very difficult—still perseverance is my middle name! The Constant Nymph opens on December 9th with Glenn Anders in my part and an English girl called Beatrix Thompson as Tessa. [Basil was directing.] I think Basil should really have waited for Edna Best but he wanted to get it on quickly.
He's producing This Was a Man beautifully and has great ideas about Semi-Monde if we can raise enough money. Gladys [Calthrop] has done some grand scenery and chosen some good clothes, so that's all cosy!
About twenty new buildings have shot up into the air since last year and five million more motor cars, consequently one can't move anywhere.
Jane Cowl, after having talked about all the plays she was going to do and made everyone's life a burden, is going into Vaudeville with a sketch and a very much smaller salary than Nazimova, who is doing the same thing!
I went out with Laurette [Taylor, who had now forgiven Noël his trespasses] the other night and she sent you her best love—she's been kicked out of the play she was trying out and is raising Hell about it—altogether the flowers of the American stage are getting a bit wilted! Gertie opens next Monday in the new Gershwin show [Oh, Kay!’]—and Jeanne Eagels opens in a new play in December [Her Cardboard Lover]. She was still doing Rain when I arrived. I haven't seen her yet.
I do wonder how the cottage [Goldenhurst] is coming along. I expect you're being a busy girl and no mistake.
How is Eric's [Noël's brother] French progressing? Tell him the moment he has completely mastered it he'd better start on Russian— difficult but commercial, so I've been told.
I'm feeling very well and I've only been out late once since I arrived.
All the love in the world, dearest darling.
Snoop
November 11th
Darling Here goes for my weekly letter.
The moment after the play opens I am going away for a fortnight to Hot Springs [he meant White Sulphur Springs] which is in the mountains and very quiet, because I want to write a little … I shall only send you the address in case you fall down stairs—or burn your finger or get pneumonia or have twins or something! Anyhow, I might not go at all but I don't wish you to come over peculiar and send off lots of bank notes and shirts and important letters to different addresses all over America, as it is an extremely large continent and very vague!
Nigel Bruce is driving everybody mad by being completely and abjectly stupid and trying far too hard and not listening to what he's told and it's all frightful but we feel it will be a
ll right on the Night! Please don't be in the least annoyed by Swaffer's remarks. [Hannen Swaffer was an egocentric though influential London gossip journalist who had started an anti-Noël vendetta.] He doesn't worry me at all—the more frightful things he says the more sympathy I get and it doesn't matter anyhow what the papers say, good or bad, I'm far beyond being harmed in any way by the Press.
Noël found Goldenhurst in 1926. He rented it, later bought it, renovated it, and installed his parents and Auntie Vida there. It was his country retreat before and after the war, until his tax “exile” forced him to sell it in 1956.
Gertie opened in Oh, Kay! here on Monday and was really marvelous, she carried the whole show and made a huge success. I spend my time pursuing elusive actresses for Fallen Angels and am now very hot on the scent of Fay Bainter but they're all very tiresome…Linda Porter [Cole's wife] arrived yesterday and I'm gracing a grand party given for her tonight … I spent the weekend on Long Island in an enormous house party with all the Vanderbilts and Astors and Shufflebottoms—altogether Society's pet.
November 18
Darling,
I've just got a lovely long letter from you! The house does sound nice and I'm terribly glad you're pleased with it. We'll have heaps of plans when I get back.
I had a tremendous party given for me last night and it was rather fun. George Gershwin played and we all carried on like one o'clock.
Jack took me to the Yale v. Princeton Football game on Saturday. It really was a marvelous sight and terribly exciting—65,000 people all screaming their heads off. Jack lost all control and beat me on the head whenever Yale scored anything.
I shall miss you dreadfully on my First Night—it's going to be very smart and there's a huge demand for seats. I shall want my grey-haired Mother hung with Woolworth pearls to clutch! But never mind. I'll write and tell you all.