THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 15, 1994 TAG: 9411150292
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
TYPE: Theater Review
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
One performer has worked with Hope, Crosby, Astaire, Julie Andrews and Robert Goulet; another has sung with the Young Americans and the North Carolina State University Choir; still another worked with the Mel Tillis Show in Vegas; another is a Tidewater Dinner Theatre veteran and has been with the Charleston Opera Company, New Jersey State Opera and Spoleto Opera Company in Italy; another performed at Duke University.
This is the local cast of the Encore Dinner Theatre presentation, ``Oh Coward,'' a witty, sophisticated, thoroughly delightful package of the songs and wit of Noel Coward.
Mary Cherry, Kent Luton, Lara Z. Wells and Michael Williams shine beacon-bright in solo spots or as an ensemble.
As a critic, there is the urge to pick out the best of the crew, but not this time. ``Oh Coward'' is an equal opportunity production with a necessarily simple set plus beautiful, appropriate costumes.
It is perfect for the Noel Coward enthusiast, near-perfect for those not familiar with his works but who enjoy fine music and clever lyrics that are sometimes reminiscent of Ogden Nash.
Coward, an entertainer/songwriter/playwright best known for ``Blithe Spirit,'' loved England but never took it too seriously, as you realize when you see ``Oh Coward.''
His ``poke-in-the-ribs'' jabs at British royalty and society mix with his loving but fun look at the people of Britain.
It helps if you're a bit of an Anglophile, but for the most part you don't even have to be familiar with Coward (1899-1973) or his work to enjoy the production. He wrote for the masses.
The problem is that he wrote so much that a play like this has to abbreviate so much. It is frustrating to become involved with something only to have it snipped away as the cast moves onto something else.
The cast gets kudos.
Kudos, also, to the director, E. Scott Wells, who had excellent talent to begin with and had them moving swiftly and cleverly from one recitation or song to the next.
Some of the songs are familiar - ``Mad Dogs and Englishmen,'' ``Some Day I'll Find You,'' ``I'll Follow My Secret Heart,'' ``Mad About the Boy'' and ``Zigeuner.''
Familiar or unfamiliar - everything is a delight. ``Oh Coward'' is an outstanding theatrical outing.
Hail, Britannia. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
The Encore Dinner Theatre Company presents ``Oh Coward,'' a dinner
theater production at Hogan's at Holiday Inn, Elizabeth City. Dinner
is at 7 p.m., the play at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
by CNB