South Sea Bubble (play)
After a pre-London tour the British production opened at the Lyric Theatre in the West End in April 1956, starring Vivien Leigh.She wished to open it in the US, which the author thought a disastrous idea: "It is typically English ... Gertie might get away with it in America, but half the point would be lost".[6] His American producer and agent, Jack Wilson, recruited Claudette Colbert to play the leading role for a short summer stock season in 1951.[7] For the British production Coward offered the part to Vivien Leigh, who at first disliked it and asked for substantial revisions, after which he found her "madly enthusiastic" about it.[3] In the British production, Peter Finch was due to co-star with Vivien Leigh, but his film commitments obliged him to pull out the month before the premiere, and his role of Hali Alani went to Ronald Lewis.Lady Shotter (Sandra) agrees to use her well-known charm to try to bring Pulano's son Hali round to a more progressive position.Returning, Shotter declines Hali's offer of a lift to a late-night party being given by one of the expatriate community, but Sandra accepts.[19] The Manchester Guardian found the same scene "one of the crispest and most eloquent moments that the English comedy stage has provided for years," but thought the author's touch uncertain elsewhere.[21] The London cast appeared in a BBC television adaptation, abbreviated to 45 minutes, given before an invited audience at the Lyric, broadcast on 17 September 1956.[22] A BBC radio adaptation in 1980 starred Moira Lister as Sandra, with Michael Denison (Shotter), Hugh Burden (Boffin), Margaretta Scott (Honey), and Bryan Pringle and Tony Osoba (the Alanis).
South Sea CompanyRonald LewisVivien LeighNoël CowardWestport Country PlayhouseClaudette ColbertLyric TheatreWest EndSecond World WarBlithe SpiritSigh No MorePacific 1860Peace in Our TimeAce of ClubsGertrude LawrenceDiana CooperEdwina MountbattenJack Wilsonsummer stockOpera House, ManchesterLiverpoolEdinburghGlasgowNewcastleArthur MacraeEdith Meiseraide-de-campPeter BarkworthBerry KroegerIan HunterAlan WebbJoyce CareyLeon JanneyPeter FinchElizabeth Sellarsold-EtonianPresent LaughterBroadwaySomerset MaughamPrivate LivesDesign for LivingThe Daily ExpressThe ObserverThe TimesThe Manchester GuardianThe Sunday TimesHarold HobsonBBC televisionBBC radioMoira ListerMichael DenisonHugh BurdenMargaretta ScottBryan PringleTony OsobaLondon Calling!On with the DanceThis Year of GraceWords and MusicSet to MusicOh, Coward!Cowardy CustardBitter SweetConversation PieceOperetteAfter the BallSail AwayThe Girl Who Came to SupperThe Rat TrapI'll Leave It to YouThe Better HalfThe Young IdeaThe VortexHay FeverFallen AngelsEasy VirtueThe Queen Was in the ParlourSemi-MondeThis Was a ManSiroccoThe MarquiseHome ChatPost-MortemCavalcadePoint ValaineTonight at 8.30This Happy BreedRelative ValuesQuadrilleNude with ViolinLook After Lulu!Waiting in the WingsSuite in Three KeysIn Which We ServeBrief EncounterThe Astonished HeartPomp and CircumstancePresent IndicativeFuture IndefiniteThe Noël Coward DiariesTonight Is OursWe Were DancingMeet Me TonightPretty PollyRed PeppersHigh Spirits