EDINBURGH FRINGE: Gertrude Lawrence: A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening

Anything goes in the Edinburgh Fringe, so although I don’t normally review music, with fond memories of the late, great author, critic and broadcaster Sheridan Morley, godson and biographer of Noel Coward, I was drawn to Gertrude Lawrence: A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening.

Noel and Gertie (also the title of a stage play written by Morley) met at the Italia Conti Theatre School when they were children, and remained lifelong friends. But this insightful show, written by and starring Lucy Stevens, is very much about the Cockney girl from Clapham whose rags to riches story (and back to rags again) had me spellbound.

This is a quality show, with Stevens performing no fewer than 22 songs the way songs used to be sung – her classically trained contralto voice soariing, and with perfect diction.

Numbers such as Dance Little Lady, On the Sunny Side of the Street, London Pride (which made me cry) and Shall We Dance, from The King and I (the show Lawrence commissioned Rodgers and Hammerstein to write), were liberally peppered with a truly fascinating and colourful life story, told with passion, humour and not a little drama. I loved it, especially when Stevens takes on the role of Noel Coward!

Image: Laura Doddington

Gertrude Lawrence: A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening is at Assembly Rooms (Drawing Room) until Aug 27 at 16.00 (1 hr 10 mins). Tickets: assemblyfestival.com