The Noel Coward Society

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Almost twenty years before the founding of the No�l Coward Society, Alan Farley presented his first broadcast honoring the birthday of The Master. On December 16, 1982, listeners in the San Francisco Bay Area enjoyed the first of what was to become an annual tradition: musical numbers, live interviews, and historic recordings to delight Coward fans old and new.

This year's special broadcast is a retrospective of celebrations past. Alan kindly provided detailed highlights: he'll present some favorite selections from the past 29 years.

The one-hour program airs on Sunday, 16 December, at 6:00 PM PST on KALW, 91.7 FM.

 

Or, click on this link to listen to KALW on your computer:  

KALW live 91.7 FM 

 

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When asked about the history of his program, Alan recalled its origin and related some  highlights of past shows.   

 

While I had always enjoyed Noel Coward's works, it was probably the gift of volumes of his plays at Christmas 1981 and my birthday in 1982, from my friend Ronald Benson, that got me more interested, and when asked to do a program to substitute for a regular musical series, I did the first Birthday special, on Coward's birthday in 1982.  

 

KW: How many minutes was it? 

AF:  Sixty minutes.

 

KW: Which of Coward's works have you included most often in the 29 years ... and why?

AF:  No idea; each show was its own self, reflecting the past year in my Coward interest, discoveries and interviews.

 

KW: Any chance you'll write an article or book about the history of the show (perhaps a compilation of program notes)?

AF: No, but I have the manuscript of a book that complies the interviews I have done about Coward.

 

KW: What is the most unusual song, interview, or other work you've presented?

AF:

During the series, I acquired from his accompanist, Norman Hackforth, some lost lyrics to "Mad About the Boy," along with unreleased recordings that he and Coward had made in Calcutta in 1944.

 

I discovered, in his secretary Joan Hirst's cupboard, an unreleased recording of "Mad About the Boy," by Coward (which he always denied he had sung).

 

While the Birthday Special was usually 60 to 90 minutes, in 1986 I presented a nine hour marathon, and in 1989, a five hour special.

 

In 1987, the Special was a production of "Blue Harbour Honeymoon," a play by Ron Lazar, which included the ghost of Noel Coward as a character.

 

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Program Notes for the 2011 Noel Coward Birthday Special  

 

- Graham Payn on how he first met Coward, and how Noel wrote "Matelot" for him him. 

  

- Accompanist Norman Hackforth on first meeting Noel, working with him, and revealing the special recordings they made in Calcutta in 1944.

  

- Elaine Stritch on how Coward discovered her and starred her in "Sail Away" on Broadway and in London.

  

- Actress Moira Lister on a special Christmas remembrance.

  

- Accompanist Peter Greenwell on working with Coward.

  

- David Attenborough on visiting the set of "In Which We Serve," in which his brother Richard played a leading role.

  

- Playwright Neil Simon on how Coward was instrumental in his career.

  

- Coward's secretary Joan Hirst on her predecessor Lorn Lorraine.

  

- Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, on unveiling the statue of Coward at the Drury Lane Theatre in 1998.

 

Music includes Graham Payn singing "Matelot," Coward's Calcutta recording of "I Wonder what Happened to Him,?" Elaine Stritch singing "Why Do the Wrong People Travel?" and Peter Greenwell's recording of "Sail Away." Plus special recordings made for the series; The Noel Coward Singers with "Give Me the Kingston Bypass," and the Volkert-Walther String Trio's version of "Green Carnation."    

 

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