THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 5, 1994 TAG: 9411050693
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
``Oh, Coward'' sounds like a story about an Army deserter.
Actually, it is not a story of any kind, but a musical comedy revue spotlighting the witty works of Noel Coward.
The Encore Theatre Company dinner presentation, at Hogan's in Holiday Inn, is scheduled for Nov. 11, 12, 18 and 19.
If the cast and director are any indication, there should be an evening of good theater - good, sophisticated theater.
Will sophistication draw an audience in Elizabeth City?
``A couple of test groups looked at it and liked it,'' said E. Scott Wells, the director.
One reason for their smiling faces is probably the cast. Most are familiar names, all are talented people - Mary Cherry, Tom Campbell, Ken Luten, Michael Williams and Lara Z. Wells, wife of the director and initiator.
``I recommended we do this one,'' Scott Wells said. ``I had worked on it while doing graduate work at the University of Utah.''
``Oh, Coward'' is a potpourri of the music and humor of Noel Coward. Much of the humor is digs at the establishment - still a familiar theme.
The music may not be familiar, with the possible exception of ``Mad Dogs and Englishmen,'' but it is tuneful and features attention-getting lyrics.
Some of them will be performed by Cherry, who admits, ``I never heard of this play, but now I love the music and the lyrics. They're wonderful. Also, I wanted to work with Scott.''
Why not? He is a veteran director who has headed productions in Salt Lake City, Portland, Ore., and in Belgium.
In that country he was a naval lieutenant, ``a flag aide to now Vice Admiral Jerry Unruh at Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers, Europe,'' Wells said. ``Nearby was a theater with British and American actors.''
Coward's name is spoken reverentially among theater folk in both countries.
``He's a true theater person,'' Wells said. ``He wrote for and about theater people.''
Most of what he wrote about takes place between World Wars I and II.
When Coward was not writing, he was performing on stage and on screen, often interpreting his own works.
Two of his best remembered, most honored films were in the proud World War II ``stiff-upper-lip'' British tradition - ``Brief Encounter'' and ``In Which We Serve.''
Dinner will be served at 7 at Hogan's, the music and wit starts at 8. MEMO: The Encore Theatre Company presents ``Oh, Coward,'' a dinner theater
production at Hogan's at Holiday Inn. Dinner is served at 7 p.m. The
play is at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for both. Performance dates are Nov.
11, 12, 18 and 19. Advance tickets are available at Holiday Inn or by
calling 338-3951. They are also available at the Pasquotank Arts
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