Tonight at 8.30
The intial half-dozen plays in this sequence were FAMILY ALBUM (FA) a comedy of manners with music; THE ASTONISHED HEART (TAH): a play in six scenes; RED PEPPERS (RP) an interlude with music; HANDS ACROSS THE SEA (HATS) a light comedy, in one scene; FUMED OAK (FO) an unpleasant comedy, in two scenes; and SHADOW PLAY (SP) a play with music.
This show closed temporarily, from 7th to 27th April 1936, when Gertrude Lawrence developed laryngitis. (‘Chit Chat’, The Stage: 9th April 1936, page 8 / 23rd April 1936, page 8.)
The triple-bill of FAMILY ALBUM, THE ASTONISHED HEART and RED PEPPERS began on 9th January 1936. A second triple-bill – HANDS ACROSS THE SEA, FUMED OAK and SHADOW PLAY – was added to the repertoire on 13th January.
FAMILY ALBUM was removed from the bill on 22nd January and replaced by WE WERE DANCING. FAMILY ALBUM returned on 18th May, alongside two new pieces, STILL LIFE and WAYS AND MEANS.
Cast & Crew
Cast
| FA: Burrows / TAH: Sir Reginald French / RP: Mr Edwards / HATS: Mr Wadhurst / SP: George Cunningham / WWD: Hubert Charteris | Alan Webb |
|---|---|
| FA: Charles Winter / TAH: Tim Verney / RP: Bert Bentley / HATS: Major Gosling / SP: A Young Man / WWD: Major Blake | Anthony Pelissier |
| FA: Edward Valance / RP: Alf / HATS: Mr Burnham / SP: Hodge / WWD: Ippaga | Kenneth Carten |
| FA: Emily Valance / HATS: Walters / FO: Elsie / SP: Lena / WWD: Eva Blake | Moya Nugent |
| FA: Harriet Winter / TAH: Susan Birch / HATS: Hon Clare Wedderburn / SP: Martha Cunningham | Everley Gregg |
| FA: Jane / TAH: Leonora Vail / RP: Lily Pepper / HATS: Lady Maureen Gilpin / FO: Doris Gow / SP: Victoria Gayforth / WWD: Louise Charteris | Gertrude Lawrence |
| FA: Jasper Featherways / TAH: Christian Faber / RP: George Pepper / HATS: Commander Peter Gilpin RN / FO: Henry Gow / SP: Simon Gayforth / WWD: Karl Sandys | Noël Coward |
| FA: Lavinia Featherways / TAH: Barbara Faber / RP: Mabel Grace / HATS: Mrs Wadhurst / FO: Mrs Rockett / SP: Sibyl Heston / WWD: Clara Bethel | Alison Leggatt |
| FA: Richard Featherways / TAH: Ernest / HATS: Lieut-Commdr Alastair Corbett RN / SP: Michael Doyle / WWD: George Davies | Edward Underdown |
Crew | |
| Dances arranged by | Ralph Reader |
| Decor | Gladys Calthrop
(credited as G E Calthrop) |
| Director | Noël Coward |
| Stage Director | Gerard Clifton |
| Stage Manager | Owen Griffith |
| Manager | Hugh Baker |
| Orchestra under the direction of | Clifford Greenwood |
- Added by Michael Hope, last modified by Jared William.
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Photographs
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Play description
Cycle of ten one act plays: We Were Dancing (WWD); The Astonished Heart (AH); Red Peppers (RP); Hands Across The Sea (HATS); Fumed Oak; Shadow Play (SP); Family Album (FA); Ways and Means (WM); Still Life (later became ‘Brief Encounter’) (SL); Star Chamber (SC).
Observations
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