''Quadrille'' is a play by Noël Coward. It is a romantic comedy set in the mid-Victorian era, and depicts the romantic permutations when an English aristocrat elopes with the wife of an American businessman and the American falls in love with the aristocrat's deserted wife. The play premiered in London in 1952, starring

Lynn Fontanne Lynn Fontanne (; 6 December 1887 – 30 July 1983) was an English actress. After early success in supporting roles in the West End theatre, West End, she met the American actor Alfred Lunt, whom she married in 1922 and with whom she co-starred i ...

and

Alfred Lunt Alfred David Lunt (August 12, 1892 – August 3, 1977) was an American actor and director, best known for his long stage partnership with his wife, Lynn Fontanne, from the 1920s to 1960, co-starring in Broadway and West End productions. After th ...

. It played on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

in 1955, with the same two players in the lead roles.

History

After a provincial tour beginning at the

Manchester Opera House The Opera House in Quay Street, Manchester, England, is a 1,920-seater commercial touring theatre that plays host to touring musicals, ballet, concerts and a Christmas pantomime. It is a Grade II listed building. The Opera House is one of the mai ...

on 15 July 1952, the play opened at the Phoenix Theatre in London on 12 September 1952 and ran until 27 June 1953. The play starred Coward's friends

and

, with Griffith Jones, Marian Spencer and Sylvia Coleridge. The costumes and scenery were by

Cecil Beaton Sir Cecil Walter Hardy Beaton, (14 January 1904 – 18 January 1980) was a British fashion, portrait and war photographer, diarist, painter, and interior designer, as well as an Oscar–winning stage and costume designer for films and the t ...

and the play was directed by the author. It was fairly successful, running for 329 performances, but failed to match the outstanding popularity of his biggest pre-war hits. ''

The Manchester Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' praised the play for breaking away from Coward’s customary terse style and experimenting with romantic comedy "affectionate and sincere as well as amusing and elegant". ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper '' The Sunday Times'' (f ...

'' was unimpressed, describing the piece as "romantic fustian". Many of the reviews thought the plot derivative of Coward's pre-war hit, ''

Private Lives ''Private Lives'' is a 1930 comedy of manners in three acts by Noël Coward. It concerns a divorced couple who, while honeymooning with their new spouses, discover that they are staying in adjacent rooms at the same hotel. Despite a perpetu ...

''. The acting of Fontanne and Lunt, however, was consistently praised, though ''

The Daily Express The ''Daily Express'' is a national daily United Kingdom middle-market newspaper printed in tabloid format. Published in London, it is the flagship of Express Newspapers, owned by publisher Reach plc. It was first published as a broadsheet ...

'' called the production "a waste of expensive talent". Lunt won a

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...

for best actor in the 1955

production, which also starred Fontanne and featured

Brian Aherne William Brian de Lacy Aherne (2 May 190210 February 1986) was an English actor of stage, screen, radio and television, who enjoyed a long and varied career in Britain and the United States. His first Broadway appearance in '' The Barretts of ...

Edna Best Edna Clara Best (3 March 1900 – 18 September 1974) was a British actress. Early life Born in Hove, Sussex, England, she was educated in Brighton and later studied dramatic acting under Miss Kate Rorke who was the first professor of Drama at ...

and

Jerome Kilty Jerome Timothy Kilty (June 24, 1922 in Baltimore, Maryland – September 6, 2012) was an American actor and playwright. He wrote ''Dear Liar: A Comedy of Letters.'' He worked extensively on the stage, both in the United States and abroad. Career K ...

. The Broadway run lasted for 159 performances and could have profitably run for longer, but the Lunts preferred to close in March 1955.

Original cast

*The Rev Edgar Spevin – John Gill *Sarah, his wife – Moya Nugent *Gwendolyn, his daughter – Pamela Grant *Waiter –

Michael Allinson Michael Allinson (30 December 1920 – 30 December 2010) was a British-American stage and film actor. Biography John Michael Allinson was born on 30 December 1920 in London, the son of British painter and sculptor Adrian Allinson, founding membe ...

*Courier – Timothy Forbes Adam *The Marquess of Heronden (Hubert) – Griffith Jones *Mrs Axel Diensen (Charlotte) – Marian Spencer *Catchpole, a butler – Gordon Phillott *The Marchioness of Heronden (Serena) – Lynn Fontanne *Lady Harriet Ripley –

Joyce Carey Joyce Carey, OBE (30 March 1898 – 28 February 1993) was an English actress, best known for her long professional and personal relationship with Noël Coward. Her stage career lasted from 1916 until 1987, and she was performing on television ...

*Foster, a maid – Sybil Wise *Footman – Rhoderick Walker *Axel Diensen – Alfred Lunt *Octavia, Countess of Bonnington – Sylvia Coleridge *Waiter – Charles Rennison *Travellers, etc – Allegra Nicole, Derek Prouse, Betty Hare, Gillian Raine, Richard Scott and Dorothy Blythe.Coward, p. 3

Plot

Act I

Scene I: The Buffet de la Gare, Boulogne. Early morning, May, 1873.

A uniformed Courier ushers in Hubert, Marquess of Heronden and Mrs Axel Diensen (Charlotte). They have left their spouses and are eloping together. Charlotte is edgy and worries that Hubert's wife Serena, and her own husband, an American railway magnate, will pursue them. She is also apprehensive about how she and Hubert will be received by the English community in Nice, where they are heading. Also in the buffet are an English clergyman, Mr Spevin and his family, en route to Nice, where he has been appointed Vicar of the English church at Nice. His wife spots that the woman with Hubert is not the Marchioness. Their train arrives and they embark.

Scene 2: Serena's Sitting-room in Heronden House, Belgrave Square. Some hours later.

Serena, Lady Heronden has returned from the country with her friend, Lady Harriet Ripley. The butler tells her that the Marquess has left a note for her. She opens it but does not reveal its contents to her inquisitive friend. Harriet leaves as an unexpected visitor, Axel Diensen, arrives. He reveals that his wife and the Marquess have eloped. He suggests the both follow the eloping couple; Serena is reluctant at first but he persuades her and they agree to take the night train for the Continent.

Act II

Scene 1: The Villa Zodiaque, St. Guillaume des Fleurs, France. Two days later.

Hubert and Charlotte find that the first rapture has worn off their romance. Hubert's attempts to soothe Charlotte are interrupted by the arrival of Serena and Axel. Serena announces her intention of staying to lunch and then indefinitely, despite Hubert's attempts to dissuade her. Hubert takes Charlotte out on to the terrace. Serena asks Axel if he is not afraid to leave them together under the sky. He comments wryly "They'll be back soon. It is beginning to rain." They look at each other and smile.

Scene 2: The same. The next morning.

Axel and Serena are still at the villa. She insists on a serious talk with Charlotte, warning her that Hubert has had short infatuations before and may well go off the idea of the elopement when reality sinks in. When Charlotte is alone Hubert enters. She tells him that Serena asked if she truly loved him, and having seen him at close quarters her answer is "No". She is ready to return to London with her husband. She makes a dignified exit, while Hubert struts off in a rage. Serena and Axel seem to have won, but are emotionally exhausted. They are interrupted by Octavia, Countess of Bonnington, an eccentric elderly neighbour. Having heard that a pair of illicit lovers are at the Villa, she assumes they are Serena and Axel, and proceeds to congratulate them, ignoring all Serena's attempts to explain the situation. Finally, she dashes out with an invitation to visit her at her Villa la Joie. Axel, who has taken a liking to her, raises his glass and drinks to her. Serena says he must be as mad as Lady Bonnington.

Scene 3: The same. Some hours later.

The two couples, in their travelling clothes, are drinking coffee. The atmosphere is rather strained as they wait for the carriage to take them to the station. Charlotte goes to pack, leaving Serena and Axel together. In a long, intimate talk, he describes his early days: how he started work at thirteen and gradually made a fortune. He asks Serena to come to America some day, and then kisses her hand. Hubert comes back and the couples leave.

Act III

Scene I: Serena's Sitting-room in Heronden House, Belgrave Square, June, 1874. Afternoon.

It is a year later. Hubert announces his intention of going big-game hunting in Africa with a new friend called Mallory. Lady Harriet arrives for afternoon tea. She is in gossipy mood, and says that Charlotte Diensen is back in America awaiting a divorce. She also remarks that Hubert has a new "friend", a Mrs Mallory. Hearing the name, Serena realises the real nature of Hubert's "big-game" expedition. "Poor Hubert!" she exclaims. Harriet is surprised at Serena's mood of elation and excitement. When she has gone, Serena rings for the butler, and gives him a letter to hand to Hubert after she has left the house.

Scene 2: The Buffet de la Gare, Boulogne. Early the next morning.

The Spevins are on their way back to England. Axel and Serena enter. Spevin recognises them and comes over to their table. He assumes Hubert is travelling with them, and Serena does not correct him. He does not realise that Axel and Serena are eloping. The Stevins leave, and Axel and Serena are left alone. He admits that he is embarrassed by his ignorance of French, and he worries that his lack of education will come to irritate Serena; but she tells him not to worry: "When one elopes with an uncivilised ruffian, one must be prepared for anything". Serena says wistfully that she wishes they were both younger and had more time. Axel replies, "There is time enough, my dear love, time and to spare. Come".

Notes

References

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External links

*{{ibdb show, id=7312, title=Quadrille Plays by Noël Coward 1952 plays Fiction set in 1873 Plays set in France