Suite in Three Keys by Noel Coward. The Orange Tree, 1 Clarence Street, Richmond, London TW1 to 20 July 2024.

4✩✩✩✩ Review: William Russell.

“Three Coward plays resurrected and stylishly played.”

The ever ambitious Orange Tree is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Noel Coward’s death with productions of this trilogy of plays, the last work he wrote for the theatre first staged in 1966 and in which he starred with Irene Worth and Lili Palmer. You can see all three on the same day, Shadows of the Evening and Come Into the Garden Maud together, and A Song at Twilight in the evening. It is a rare chance to see them and a reminder that although Coward is best remembered for his comedies and a writer of reviews, earlier in his career he tackled, although always laced with his wit. They all take place in the same hotel suite in Lausanne – something Coward noted Neil Simon adopted for Plaza Suite which followed a couple of years later – and director Tom Littler has assembled in Stephen Boxer, Emma Fielding and Tara Fitzgerald a cast fully able to rise to the demands placed on. A Song at Twlight, by far the best of the three, was bold in 1966 in that it is about a very distinguished writer visited by a former mistress, now an actress, who wants permission to include his letters to her in the biography she wants to write. He is now married to a solid, capable German who runs his life. He is outraged at this intrusion and use of his words and refuses, she responds by revealing she has other letters. They were written to his secretary and lover, now dead. Somerset Maugham is, of course, the great man who springs to mind but it was daring of Coward to take on such a role. It creaks a little, but Coward has surprises to spring as the battle between the writer (Stephen Boxer) and Carlotta (Tara Fitzgerald in a terrifying wig until one looks back at what actresses sported as hair styles then, rages. Emma Fielding as the wife leaves them to it, but returns in the second half to allow Coward to spring even more surprises. The performances of all three are pitch perfect. The one act plays are lesser affairs. In Shadows of the Evening the man, a publisher, is dying, his mistress of many years invites his wife – they have never divorced – to tell her and we get a interesting discussion about facing up to dying. In Come Into the Garden Maude, which is very funny, we get a rich American and his vulgar wife, a show stopping turn from Emma Fielding, about to hold a dinner party to which she has invited an Italian prince. Coward has a whale of a time with the wrong people who travel and Fielding, a battle ship in chiffon, with purple hair is a delight. But the targets are very much of then – today it would not be filthy rich American business men and their wives but an influencer, a Netflix star or a Kardashian who would be the wrong people to travel. But it is Coward in familiar mode and, albeit dated, is in good working order still. Tara Fitzgerald as a friendly Italian princess Fielding has “collected” in Rome – she had them to dinner – comes in to their lives, faces up to the monstrous Fielding in splendid style, and offers Verner a chance to escape. But will he?

In all three plays the occupants of the suite are served by the same up for anything, especially if a tip is likely, Italian waiter. Steffan Rizi, who sings and plays the guitar before each play as well, delighted the audience on press day as Felix, and judging by some of the on line comments about preview performances by the audiences then too. Seen on one day Suite in Three Keys is a substantial meal to digest, but it is worth it. A Song at Twilight is the most interesting – and rewarding – but whatever their flaws this resurrected Coward trio, stylishly played and directed, is well worth seeing.

Cast

A song at twilight

Stephen Boxer – Hugo Latymer.

Emma Fielding – Hilde.

Tara Fitzgerald – Carlotta Gray.

Steffan Rizzi – Felix.

Shadow of the Evening.

Stephen Boxer – George Hilgay.

Tara Fitzgerald – Linda Savignac.

Emma Fielding – Anne hilgay.

Steffan Rizzi – Felix.

Come into the Garden Maud.

Emma Fielding – Anna-Mary Conklin.

Stephen Box – Verner Conklin.

Tara Fitzgerald – Maud Caragnani.

Steffan Rizzi – Felix.

Creatives

Director – Tom Littler.

Designer – Louie Whitemore.

Lighting Designer – Chris McDonnell.

Sound Designer & Composer – Tom Attwood.

Voice & Accent Coach – Nick Trumble.