Unless you are well versed in the history of theatre and film, a brief lesson is perhaps required for Noel and Gertie. Noel Coward was an English playwright, director, composer and actor and Gertrude Lawrence (but you can call her Gertie) was an English actress, singer and dancer. She often collaborated with Coward and they had a complex and tempestuous relationship. Noel and Gertie is a reflection of their work, and particularly their collaboration; while their unspoken passion for each other provides an undercurrent of tension. It is a story told through song, dance and drama, highlighting Coward’s play Private Lives, as well as Still Life, which was eventually adapted for the screen and re-titled Brief Encounter.

Bringing these indomitable artists to life, as well as a retinue of characters they portrayed, are Jonathan Roxmouth and Taryn Sudding. They entertain the audience with dance numbers, move them with romantic moments, make them laugh at their ridiculous spats, but above all, captivate them with their beautiful voices – Jonathan’s rich and clear, Taryn’s sweet and light; while both maintaining the gravitas of the moments and never losing their grip on any of the characters. Accomplished musician Stefan Lombard accompanies them throughout on the piano, bearing through the characters’ insufferable bickering, marching on like the band that kept on playing even as the Titanic sank.

The repertoire of songs is vast and varied, ranging from poignant solos such as Mad about the Boy to bouncing duets like the tap-dancing ditty Has Anybody Seen our Ship. The show is well-structured, especially considering the intricate layering of plays-within-a-play. It is well executed and you often find yourself wondering whether you are applauding for the actors or the characters as actors. The nature of the play allows the audience to be addressed directly, involving them so subtly and smoothly that they become characters in themselves. On stage, Roxmouth is both natural and technically driven, and he seamlessly incorporates the audience, no matter what inopportune circumstance presents itself.

Some of the comic timing is a bit off in the first act and a few of the pauses slightly strained; but it soon evens out these ruffles. The intimate setting at Theatre on the Bay is perfectly suited for the production, allowing the audience to pick up every smirk, grimace and raised eyebrow. It is almost hard to believe that so many various types of theatre are showcased in one production, but the melancholy prescience between Noel and Gertie threads it together and ultimately presents a tender romance.

Originally published on What’s on in Cape Town.

Claudia Hauter
Noel and Gertie runs from February to 9 March at Theatre on the Bay (wwwtheatreonthebay.co.za)