VERSATILE COWARD

Taranaki Daily News, 7 September 1935, Page 20 (Supplement)

VERSATILE COWARD

DRAMATIST, ACTOR, COMPOSER. CHRONOLOGY OF HIS LIFE. Noel Coward, although still comparatively a young man, has achieved a unique position through his dramatic work. He has recently completed his first film, “The Scoundrel,” which will be shown in New Zealand this month. The diversity of his talents, as dramatist, actor, and composer, is revealed by the following chronological table:— 1899—Born on December 16, at Teddington, Middlesex, England. 1910— Made his first stage appearance in “The Gold Fish.” 1911— Engaged by Charles Hawtrey to play in “The Great Game” at London. Also appeared in “Where the Rainbow Ends.” 1912— Appeared at the Liverpool Repertory Theatre in “Hannele.” 1916— Toured as Charley Wykeham in “Charley’s Aunt” and played in “The Light Blues.” 1917— Played in “The Happy Family”

at London. Joined the British Army and served with the Artists’ Rifles. 1918—Played, in “Scandal” at London. 1920— Produced his first play, “I’ll Leave it to You,” in. which he played Bobbie. 1921— Went to America and arrived almost penniless at New York. 1922— Went back to England and toured the provinces in his play, “The Young Idea.” 1923— Played in “The Young Idea” at London. 1924— Wrote and played in “The Vortex. n 1925— Went to New York to appear in “The Vortex,” “Fallen Angels,” “Hay Fever,” and “Easy Virtue,” all written by himself. 1926— Played in “The Constant Nymph” at London; and “The Queen was in the Parlour,” written by Coward. 1927— Wrote book, music, lyrics, for “This Year of Grace,” produced at London. Played in “The Second Man” at London. 1929— Wrote and produced “Bitter Sweet.” 1930— Wrote and acted in “Private Lives” at London and New York. 1931— Scored a tremendous success with “Cavalcade” at London. 1932— “Words and Music,” a revue, hailed with enthusiasm at London. In the autumn, left for a holiday in Egypt and the East. 1933 — Wrote and played in “Design for Living” at New York. 1934— Wrote “Point Valaine,” produced at New York, also “Conversation Piece,” produced at London and New York. 1935— Makes his film debut as the star cf “The Scoundrel,” a Paramount release, which will have its New Zealand premiere this month.