This delightfully charming musical stars Gary Tushaw as Noël Coward and Rebecca Trehearn , as Gertrude Lawrence. The cast are joined by Joey Hickman and Michaela Murphy, who work seamlessly with Tushaw and Trehearn to provide the music on two pianos and an accordion.
The show is devised by the late writer and Coward’s biographer Sheridan Morley and features much of Noël Coward’s incredible work. The production, directed by Thom Southerland, is heartfelt and humorous.
The performance tells the story of Noel and Gertie’s lives – how they met from a young age, how their friendship develops and how they cross paths with each other, including the plays and songs that Coward wrote with actress Gertie in mind.
The show features over 20 songs from Coward’s works, each one as good as the last. Don’t put your Daughter on the Stage is an absolute standout from the show as is Mad About The Boy and I’ll See You Again.
What particularly interested me was the story of ‘Tonight at 8:30’ – a collection of nine one-act plays written by Coward and performed with Lawrence in 1936, in which one play, Still Life, was later adapted into the classic film Brief Encounter.
The scenes from Brief Encounter – the story of two married strangers, whose chance meeting at a railway station platform leads to something more serious – were particularly poignant in the performance.
Amidst the scenes, Hickman picks up the dialogue with Tushaw, which was a beautiful way to express Coward’s sexuality in the performance.
The excerpts from Blithe Spirit – about a wife who returns to haunt her re-married husband – were also brilliantly and humorously performed. Tushaw and Trehearn work really well together and are equally matched as performers throughout.
The production is wonderfully nostalgic and beautifully presented. The staging is elegantly set in an art deco style, with the lighting setting a perfect backdrop for each and every scene.
★★★★
Noel and Gertie is at Curve Theatre until Saturday, October 11
Tickets £10-£29.50
