My Life With Noel Coward

by Payn, Graham; Day, Barry

• ISBN13: 9781557831903
• ISBN10: 1557831904
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1994-12-01
• Publisher: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books

Summary

This is the definitive memoir of the private Noel Coward by the only man with the compassionate insight and first-hand experience to write it. Graham Payn, star of many of Coward's shows, shared the Master's professional and private life for thirty years. When Coward kept the rest of the world at bay, Payn remained at his side as confidant and friend. No one else was as privy to Coward's doubts and dreams.

Table of Contents

BOOK ONE ``PAST FORGETTING''
Introduction
Beginners, Please...	1	(15)
Touring Days	16	(14)
A Cold Spell: The Post-War 1940's	30	(16)
Shall We Join The Ladies...? (1) Noel And Gertie	46	(12)
Angry Young England: The 1950's	58	(26)
Words And Music (And Painting)	84	(30)
Brave New U.S.A.: The 1950's	114	(16)
``Gentlemen And Players'': Great Contemporaries	130	(30)
``Dad's Renaissance'': The 1960's	160	(22)
The Rooms With A View	182	(26)
The Family That Plays Together	208	(16)
Shall We Join The Ladies...? (2) Noel And Marlene... And Tallulah... And Bea... And Vivien... And...	224	(12)
``Goodnight, My Darlings'': The 1970's	236	(20)
``Very `Noel Coward''' Keeping A Legend Alive	256	(134)
BOOK TWO COWARD ON THEATRE
Coward On Theatre	282	(32)
The Unpublished Plays	314	(8)
A Personal Commentary
``Consider The Public''	322	(16)
The Sunday Times Trilogy
A Warning to Pioneers
A Warning to Actors
A Warning to Dramatic Critics
Theatre Essays	338	(18)
Stage Fright
``How I Wonder What You Are''
The Decline of the West End
The Art of Acting
Acting With Noel	356	(12)
Judy Campbell Remembers
Noel And Judy Garland	368	(8)
A Conversation
``Merely Players...''	376	(13)
Acting Contemporaries
Envoi	389	(1)
Bibliography	390	(6)
Index	396