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Cowardy Custard

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Cowardy Custard is a musical revue and was one of the last Noël Coward shows staged during his life. It was devised by Gerard Frow, Alan Strachan and Wendy Toye. The term "cowardy custard" is a taunt used by schoolchildren in the UK equivalent to "scardey cat" in the U.S.[1] The working title of the show was "Cream of Coward", but Coward cabled the producers from Jamaica suggesting "Cowardy Custard" three months before the opening.[2] He vetoed an alternative suggestion, "This Is Noël Coward" which he said was too close to "This Was Noël Coward".[3]

Background

Telling the story of Coward's life through song and biographical snippets, the revue was billed as 'An entertainment featuring the words and music of Noël Coward'. The Coward numbers featured are songs and scenes from the 1920s to the 1960s, including "Shadow Play", "Mad About the Boy"; "The Stately Homes of England", "I Wonder What Happened to Him?" and, perhaps most memorably, "Marvellous Party" (sung by Patricia Routledge in the original production).[4] The revue also contains previously unpublished material, excerpts of plays and dialogues, material from Coward's autobiographies and a few of his little-known poems. Sketches featured include Scenes from Shadow Play, Present Laughter, and Design for Living.

The original production and opened at the Mermaid Theatre, London on 10 July 1972 as part of the 1972 City of London Festival and ran for over a year for a total of 405 performances. It was directed by Wendy Toye and employed a cast of twelve (six men and six women), featuring Patricia Routledge, Derek Waring, John Moffatt, Elaine Delmar, Una Stubbs, Jonathan Cecil, Peter Gale, Anna Sharkey, Geoffrey Burridge, Laurel Ford, Tudor Davies and Olivia Breeze.

After its run in London, the show toured the UK with different cast members. It has since mostly been produced by amateur groups. In 1972, a revue on similar lines, Oh, Coward!, played in New York at the New Theatre, achieving 294 performances.

A recording of the original London show was made by RCA. The production also spawned a book.[5]

Musical numbers

Notes

  1. ^ Dunkling, Leslie. A Dictionary of Epithets and Terms of Address (1990) ISBN 0415007615
  2. ^ The Times Diary, 3 May 1972, p. 16
  3. ^ The Times Diary, 11 July 1972, p. 14
  4. ^ The reviewer in The Times, Charles Lewsen, said "Miss Routledge was in glorious voice last night. Her 'Marvellous Party' threatened to stop the show." The Times, 11 July 1972, p. 13.
  5. ^ Coward, Noël; John Hadfield (ed). Cowardy Custard: The World of Noël Coward (1973) London: Heinemann ISBN 0434310905

References


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