Theater Review: 'Bottoms Up! The Private Lives of Noel Coward'

Northeast Stage's production of "Bottoms Up! The Private Lives of Noel Coward" traces the life of the Noel Coward — the legendary English playwright, director and actor — through reminiscences, letters and songs from Coward's extensive songbook. The last performance takes place on Sunday at Brecknock Hall in Greenport at 5 p.m.

The play — both sad and funny — chronicles Coward's long and prolific career. Behind Coward's wit and charm was a prudish man living in quiet desperation, constantly longing for the love and the approval of the public. The play easily serves as a stern reminder that fame and fortune can't buy happiness.

The Play:

The late Southold playwright Daniel Rosenblatt wrote "Bottoms Up! The Private Lives of Noel Coward". The play was first produced in 1998 off-Broadway in Manhattan. The current Northeast Stage production — which has enjoyed a two-week, sold out run — is a Long Island premiere and is dedicated to Mr. Rosenblatt, who died last year.

The Troupe:

Directed by James Pritchard with assistant direction by A.D. Newcomer; lyrics by Noel Coward, musical direction and accompaniment by Dee Laveglia

Old Noel Coward – Terry Brockbank

Reginald Tradd, a hotel servant – James Pritchard

Young Noel Coward – Dan Yaiullo

Tallulah Bankhead – Jenifer Corwin

Middle Noel Coward – John Tramontana

Vivien Leigh – Anna Aguilar

Marlene Dietrich – Beverly Gregory

The Plot:

Three men representing various ages of Noel Coward – young, middle and elderly - tell Coward's story through anecdotes and song. 

The play opens with the elderly Noel Coward dressing to go to Buckingham Palace where he will be knighted. The variously-aged Cowards take up the story, sometimes crossing paths and touching on important theater productions and events. They manage to cover 74 years of life in about two hours.

The actresses Tallulah Bankhead, Vivien Leigh and Marlene Dietrich talk about their friendships or work relationships with Noel Coward and sing his songs throughout the play.

The Set:

Brecknock Hall is a restored 19th-century mansion in Greenport and is the perfect venue for a play about the life of a man introduced to high society as a teenager. 

The modest set consists of a dressing table, mirror and chair on one side and a small bar and chair on the other.

The Costumes:

Apparently, Noel Coward had a fondness for Japanese robes because he wears one throughout this production.

The women wear clothing usually identified with their characters: Vivian Leigh wears a demure white suit and hat, Tallulah Bankhead wears a flamboyant gown and flashy jewelry, and Marlene Dietrich wears a black pant suit, white shirt and black tie.

The High Points:

All of the performances give the audience a sense of Noel Coward's huge talent, acerbic wit and the distinct impression that one did not want to be the object of either his wit or scorn.

Terry Brockbank as the older Noel Coward sets the tone for life reflection.  Alternately dignified, crude or funny, the elder Coward proved that Noel Coward did it his way.

Jenifer Corwin as Tallulah Bankhead, Anna Aguilar as Vivien Leigh and Beverly Gregory as Marlene Dietrich delivered solid performances, but Noel Coward's misogyny kept popping up and it was difficult to identify with or find the female characters likable.

John Tramontana's performance as the middle Noel Coward was good but a little disconcerting, because he didn't have the British accent that the younger and older Cowards had. The awareness of the lack of an accent kept breaking the play's mood.

James Pritchard as Reginald Tradd was amusing as the servant who sang, brought robes in and out, delivered drinks, and sometimes gave massages. He asked Noel Coward for an audition, because he was really an actor masquerading as a servant.  He was told to call the office.

Dan Yaiullo as the young Noel Coward gave the most compelling performance. His first appearance quickly showed how thin the façade of laughter and gaiety was. He discussed his nervous breakdown and attempt to heal. The young Coward made it convincingly apparent that laugher is often the handmaiden of pain and sorrow.

The play displays Noel Coward's amazing talent, wit, humor and charm — but it also shows a society of people building lives based on hypocrisy and dishonesty. His homosexuality was an open secret, yet he never acknowledged it for fear he would lose the approval he seemed to desperately need.

The final performance of "Bottoms Up! The Private Lives of Noel Coward" takes place at Brecknock Hall at Peconic Landing in Greenport on Sunday at 5 p.m.  Call 631-765-1409 for more information.