December 2007

"THE MASTER": NOEL COWARD AS WRITER, ACTOR AND PAINTER

The Farnham Decorative and Fine Arts Society met on December 18th at the Maltings for the Christmas Lecture, which was followed by Festive Drinks in the Cellar Bar.

Before the Lecture, Mrs Frances Ashworth welcomed all those present and drew members attention to the display boards showing the excellent work done by Volunteer Groups such as Garden and Church Recording. Other Society activities include a study day on Art in Venice and a theatre outing to see “The Vortex” by Noel Coward in Woking.

Mrs Ashworth then introduced the speaker, Frances Hughes, who lectures at the Theatre Museum and the National Portrait Gallery: her lecture was entitled The Master: Noel Coward as a Writer, Actor and Painter.

Noel Coward was one of the great playwrights of the 20th Century and a talented performer and painter.

He was born on 16th December 1899 into an artistic and musical family and showed considerable talent for performing at an early age. His debut was in the local church at 5 years old and soon his career took off when he joined a company of Wonder Children some of whom also became famous later. He met many people who would become well known such as Gertrude Lawrence and Edith Evans who were great friends and acted with him in his plays. George Bernard Shaw was also his friend and mentor.

His writing was entertaining and often thought provoking as he produced “Cutting Edge” plays and revues. He entertained troops in both wars and kept up morale as well as gathering material for the film “In Which We Serve” connected with Lord Louis Mountbatten. He was also attached to the Secret Service and involved in persuading America to enter the war. To relax when the pressure became too great he liked to travel, particularly to the Far East and his play “Private Lives” was very popular in Japan!

Noel Coward’s friends and colleagues included John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier, and Ian Fleming and he encouraged young actors such as Derek Jacobi and Maggie Smith. He himself was encouraged in his painting by Winston Churchill when they were neighbours, although he never had a formal lesson.

He was knighted in 1970 in recognition of his wonderful career and of the work he did entertaining troops and encouraging young actors. His plays, including “Blithe Spirit”, “Cavalcade” and the “Vortex” were performed all over the world and still are today.

Having written so many entertaining plays, revues and films he bought a home in Jamaica where he could relax and create his colourful paintings of life on the island. The Queen Mother was an admirer of all his talents and visited him there. She was also instrumental in h4ying a memorial to The Master placed in Poets Corner in Westminster Abbey.

Frances Hughes gave a fascinating insight to a complex and talented man who was The Master of the Performing Arts and an inspiration to all who knew him.