Lunch with Marlene
Encyclopedia
Lunch with Marlene is a stage comedy written by Chris Burgess. It is based on the friendship of acting legends Marlene Dietrich
and Noël Coward
. The two were respectively portrayed by Kate O'Mara
and Frank Barrie
in the play's original London
production, which ran at the New End Theatre
from 28 March 2008 through 27 April 2008. Musical direction and arrangements by Neil MacDonald who also played the role of the waiter and pianist. Reviews for the production were generally positive, with The New York Times
commenting that the play is "far from perfect, yet it is hugely likeable."
, for which she has already accepted and spent an advance payment
. The two former stars reminisce and discuss Dietrich's experiences as a German American
during World War II
. The second act presents a musical revue, including such songs as "Don't Let's Be Beastly to the Germans
", "Boys in the Backroom", and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?
".
production, which ran at the New End Theatre
from 28 March 2008 through 27 April 2008, received "rave reviews". The Daily Telegraph
called the production a "delightful reconstruction of one of their meetings" and called the musical revue a "further treat". The New York Times
said the production was "far from perfect, yet it is hugely likeable" and that the "fascinating" biographical details were at times "awkwardly inserted". The Stage
also called the dialogue "fascinating" and the casting "impeccable", though the direction by Steward Nicholls "lacked intimacy".
Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich was a German-American actress and singer.Dietrich remained popular throughout her long career by continually re-inventing herself, professionally and characteristically. In the Berlin of the 1920s, she acted on the stage and in silent films...
and Noël Coward
Noël Coward
Sir Noël Peirce Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise".Born in Teddington, a suburb of London, Coward attended a dance academy...
. The two were respectively portrayed by Kate O'Mara
Kate O'Mara
Kate O'Mara is an English film, stage and television actress. She is perhaps most widely known for her role as Caress Morell, the scheming sister of Alexis Colby in the 1980s American primetime soap opera Dynasty, though is also known for playing other villains such as The Rani in Doctor Who and...
and Frank Barrie
Frank Barrie
Frank Barrie is a British stage and television actor. He made his acting debut in 1959 in a production of Henry IV, Part 2 at the York Theatre Royal. He proved to be a successful Shakespearean actor throughout his career...
in the play's original London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
production, which ran at the New End Theatre
New End Theatre
The New End Theatre, Hampstead, was a 80-seat fringe theatre venue in London, England, located in the London Borough of Camden which operated from 1974 until 2011. It was listed widely on the internet, including with the New York Times....
from 28 March 2008 through 27 April 2008. Musical direction and arrangements by Neil MacDonald who also played the role of the waiter and pianist. Reviews for the production were generally positive, with The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
commenting that the play is "far from perfect, yet it is hugely likeable."
Plot
The first act takes place in a restaurant in London in 1970, in which Dietrich and Coward meet for lunch. Dietrich seeks Coward's advice on whether or not to write an autobiographyAutobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, for which she has already accepted and spent an advance payment
Advance payment
An advance payment, or simply an advance, is the part of a contractually due sum that is paid in advance for goods or services, while the balance included in the invoice will only follow the delivery. It is called a prepaid expense in accrual accounting.-See also:*Advance against royalties*Pay or...
. The two former stars reminisce and discuss Dietrich's experiences as a German American
German American
German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The second act presents a musical revue, including such songs as "Don't Let's Be Beastly to the Germans
Don't Let's Be Beastly to the Germans
"Don't Let's Be Beastly To The Germans" was a satiric, patriotic song popular in Britain in World War II. It was composed by Noël Coward. Although popular when performed live the humour did not translate well over the wireless and caused some fuss, leading the BBC to ban the song.The refrain...
", "Boys in the Backroom", and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?
Where Have All the Flowers Gone?
"Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" is a folk song. The first three verses were written by Pete Seeger in 1955, and published in Sing Out! magazine...
".
Reception
The original LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
production, which ran at the New End Theatre
New End Theatre
The New End Theatre, Hampstead, was a 80-seat fringe theatre venue in London, England, located in the London Borough of Camden which operated from 1974 until 2011. It was listed widely on the internet, including with the New York Times....
from 28 March 2008 through 27 April 2008, received "rave reviews". The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
called the production a "delightful reconstruction of one of their meetings" and called the musical revue a "further treat". The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
said the production was "far from perfect, yet it is hugely likeable" and that the "fascinating" biographical details were at times "awkwardly inserted". The Stage
The Stage
The Stage is a weekly British newspaper founded in 1880, available nationally and published on Thursdays. Covering all areas of the entertainment industry but focused primarily on theatre, it contains news, reviews, opinion, features and other items of interest, mainly to those who work within the...
also called the dialogue "fascinating" and the casting "impeccable", though the direction by Steward Nicholls "lacked intimacy".