Suzanne Noble

If They Could See Me Now—The Words and Music of Dorothy Fields

The Crazy Coqs, London, UK, November 7, 2022

Reviewed by Gavin Brock

If one were asked to name a prolific writer of musical theater, Dorothy Fields may not be a name that immediately springs to mind. Nonetheless, given the 400 song lyrics she wrote over a career-spanning 50 years, there are few who aren’t familiar with at least some of the fruits of her many and varied collaborations. They were featured in Broadway shows and Hollywood movies that have since attained nothing less than legendary status.

If Fields’s present-day reputation may be somewhat overshadowed by the reputations of her male collaborators; among them Jimmy McHugh, Jerome Kern, Cy Coleman, Michael Bennett, Neil Simon, Bob Fosse, and Irving Berlin. Suzanne Noble’s one-woman tribute sought to redress the balance by celebrating this trailblazing lyricist whose wit and commitment to character show in her every perfectly rhymed line.

Accompanied by seasoned West End music director Paul Maguire, Noble portrayed her subject with an irresistible earthy charisma, recounting Fields’ fascinating life along with some career highlights (and lowlights). Her beguiling matter-of-factness brought warmth and genuine fondness from the rapt audience. 

From her humble beginnings running up and down Tin Pan Alley during the Great Depression in search of a way into the industry, to receiving an Oscar and a Tony Award along the way, Fields’ story is peppered with charming anecdotes and splendid musical numbers. These include the familiar—“The Way You Look Tonight” (Kern),  “On the Sunny Side of the Street” (Jimmy McHugh),  “Big Spender”(Coleman)—along with overlooked gems that sparkled with Fields’ trademark vitality and humor. In particular, “Welcome to Holiday Inn” (Coleman from Seesaw) elicited delighted laughter from the audience; these wry observations of a hotel receptionist still seem devastatingly contemporary despite having been written 50 years ago.

It is testament to Fields’ artistic honesty that her lyrics remain so evergreen and relevant. Similarly, Noble’s seemingly effortless performance re-examined them with a freshness that relished in their innate wit and wisdom. This was a triumphant presentation of a triumphant career, one that still remains long worth cherishing.