Everyman Theatre Blog

by:Naomi Greenberg-Slovin

Reading Noel Coward’s diaries is like reading a chronicle of every famous person of the time.  In connection with productions of his plays, he was constantly moving around the world and wherever he went, he was the prime attraction.

Boston:  Diary entry -1961

Well, the show [Bitter Sweet] opened and is a sell-out for the entire time we are here…….

Lynn and Alfred (Lunt) have been here since Saturday and attended gleefully every performance.

Judy (Garland), the Richard Rodgers, Dorothy Hammerstein, etc. all came and were highly enthusiastic.

Noel Coward & Judy Garland 

Mrs. Roosevelt came on Tuesday night. I dined with her and took her to the theatre. She was absolutely charming as usual.

Eleanor Roosevelt

On Sunday, the Mellons sent their private jet plane and we were whisked to Cape Cod, an exquisite house, where we had lunch with the President and Mrs. Kennedy, both of whom were charming. I was impressed with him. Although the burden of the Western world is on his shoulders, he resolutely insists on relaxing completely every weekend.

They arrived in the presidential motor cruiser. Secret Service gentlemen were festooned from every tree. She was pretty, cheerful and full of star quality. In fact, they both are. She is also, to her everlasting credit, a Coward fan

London 1964- after ten hectic days in London where he spent time with his good friend, Lawrence Olivier and met The Beatles. 

Noel Coward & Lawrence Olivier  


 
The Beatles

He finished his visit this way:

I lunched with the dear Queen Mother at Clarence House. She was more enchanting than ever.