The Coward Controversy
O many people I have spoken to seem to feel strongly about Mr. Coward-as he would like them to, no doubt. They are likely to become exercised at the mere mention of his name, one school declaring that they considered him a " wash-out," the other that he was all an entertainer should be, The truth is I neither saw him nor heard his con-
certs, SO alii i Can say to those who did not enjoy them is that they were rather simple, weren’t they, to go along expecting him to sing like Caruso, or Harry Lauder if you like, when we have heard his records for years and should know that his singing voice is a mere tuneful quaver. I don’t know what these people thought he would doacrobatics, perhaps, or female
impersonations, The point rather seems to be that what Mr. Coward attempted was to amuse his audiences by singing as best he might some of his own and other people’s songs of a certain-shall we saysophisticated type, and introducing them to a personality that London and New York, and for all I know, Wigan also, find engaging. It is in some sense notable that so popular a writer should be prepared to perform at all, All most of them can do in per-" son is to roar when the circumstances are pro-pitious-(Review of Noel Coward’s " Australia Visited, 1940," by John Moffett, 4YA, August 6.)
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19410912.2.13.4
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 5, Issue 116, 12 September 1941, Page 5
Word count
Tapeke kupu
240The Coward Controversy New Zealand Listener, Volume 5, Issue 116, 12 September 1941, Page 5
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in