Elegant, sophisticated and romantic -- the words describe not only Noel Coward and his songs, but also the sweet-spirited program that closed the 2006-2007 season of The 92nd Street Y's Lyrics & Lyricists series. With Steve Ross as artistic director and host, the program, titled Noel Coward and His Ladies, referred not only to the bygone stars who once presented Coward's songs on the British and American stages -- such personalities as Gertrude Lawrence, Elaine Stritch and Beatrice Lilly - but also to the program's fine modern-day talents, Nancy Anderson, Maude Maggart, and, from London theatre, Patricia Hodge. The songs, culled from Coward's operettas and revues of the 1920s to his musical theater pieces of the 1960s, included a special highlight: "Mad Dogs and Englishmen," performed by Coward himself in a video. For students of L&L productions, Ross's program was a lesson in professionalism as well as an exhibit of confidence in allowing world-class songs to speak for themselves.
Peter Haas
Cabaret Scenes
June 3, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org
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