A pair of anecdotes...

[fajrdrako]

Before I return the Ivor Novello biography to the library, I wanted to remember two gay-themed anecdotes for my own amusement.

The first is about the actor-manager Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and his wife.

Sir Herbert sat up very late after dinner enjoying a close tete-a-tete with an extremely handsome young actor. His wife decided to go to bed, and, at the door, wishing them goodnight, murmured: "Remember, Herbert, it's adultery all the same."

I would be curious to know which of the three recorded the incident.

The other story is a quip by Noel Coward:

Coward's friend...Sir Dudley Pound often enterained with his wife on board the flagship, and Noel was asked to invite as many people as he liked to a big cocktail party. Ivor, of course, was included.... "Noel," said one of the ladies, "I have a dreadful feeling we've asked too many queer people." Noel reassured her. "If we take care of the pansies, the Pounds will take care of themselves."

Comments

[lmondegreen.livejournal.com]

Hee - I love that second one :-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

So do I. I think I'll read a biography of Coward, too.

The book had one Coward scene that was quite heartbreaking. It told about Coward, when fairly young, going to one of Ivor Novello's lavish parties in his luxurious flat over the Strant, drinking champagne and eating caviar ... and then going home to his own tiny, shabby flat where all he could afford was sardines on toast for supper.