Cowardy Custard serves up great entertainment (From Malvern Gazette)

Cowardy Custard serves up great entertainment

10:25am Thursday 14th April 2011 in Latest

Cowardy Custard Malvern Theatres.

THIS loving tribute to Noël Coward was first staged in 1972, the year before the great man’s death, and spawned a whole new genre of compilation musical revue (starting with Side by Side by Sondheim and a Cole Porter show, and followed later by tributes to the likes of Buddy Holly and Queen).

I have to admit I was sceptical about seeing this production but was assured by my friend, a fan, that it would be worth the journey... and to my delight she was right.

I have to admit that some of the music did seem dated, and there were times when I wondered Why Must The Show Go On? But then there were enough well-known and catchy tunes to skim over that and plenty of comic moments to make up for parts that I considered a bit “thin”.

While I was Mad About The Boy(s) in this production - Kit Hesketh-Harvey and The Widow, along with a delightful Stuart Neal, the star of the show was undoubtedly Dillie Keane.

Her drunken rendition of I’ve Been to a Marvellous Party and her part in I Wonder What Happened to Him had the audience in stitches, as did her long-suffering wife in Bronxville Darby and Joan.

I could not fault the acting or singing of any of the cast members and there is no doubting the energy they all put into their roles - and they enjoyment they got from performing.

I’m still not clued up on all things Noel Coward, but at least now I want to go out and learn more.

Cowardy Custard is on at Malvern Theatres until tomorrow, Saturday, April 16.