NOEL Coward and Gertrude Lawrence were real life friends who together formed a legendary stage partnership.
Now in the hands of contemporary actors Lucy Maunder and James Millar, with Vincent Colagiuri at the piano, they’re coming to life at The Q in a show directed and choreographed by Australians theater legend, Nancye Hayes.
Put together from diaries and letters between Coward and Lawrence, “Noel and Gertie” features songs, sketches and scenes from some of Coward’s works.
Coward was the urbane wit who wrote classic comedies like “Private Lives,” “Blithe Spirit” and “Hay Fever” but at the same time wrote loves songs like “Mad About the Boy” and hilarious comic songs like “Mad Dogs and Englishmen.”
Coward was also an actor, director, producer, screenwriter, novelist, poet, cabaret artist, and super-celeb.
Lawrence was the actress who premiered in productions such as “Lady in the Dark” and “The King and I.”
Presumably keen to get a new generation of theatregoers into the show, the promoters are saying, “If you loved shows like ‘Downton Abbey,’ ‘The Great Gatsby,’ ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ ‘Poirot’ or ‘Mary Poppins,’ then you’ll love Noel and Gertie.”
That’s a pretty board brush—it’s the sophistication and wit that will attract those in the know.
“Noel and Gertie” at The Q, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, 253 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan, 8pm July 2, 4, 5 and 6, 2pm July 3, 4, 6 and 5pm, July 7, bookings to 6285 6290.
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