Derek Waring

BWW CD Reviews: COWARDY CUSTARD (Original Cast Recording) is Trying and Agitating

About nine months before Noel Coward left this earth, an autobiographical revue that told the story of his life premiered at the Mermaid Theatre in London on July 10, 1972 as part of the 1972 City of London Festival. The production, directed by Wendy Toye and starring Patricia Routledge, Derek Waring, Elaine Delamr, Una Stubbs, Geoffrey Burridge, among others, ran for 405 performances. The show featured songs and scenes that spanned Noel Coward's career, including material from the 20s to the 60s. The original cast recorded a comprehensive 2 disc LP that was released by RCA in 1972, and now Masterworks Broadway has reissued the album for the digital age. Featuring 106 minutes of material spread across 2 CDs, I found the listening experience entirely trying and agitating.