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.