| Set to Music | |
|---|---|
 Page from sheet music (cropped) | |
| Music | Noël Coward |
| Lyrics | Noël Coward |
| Productions | 1939Broadway |
Set to Music is amusicalrevue with sketches, music and lyrics byNoël Coward.
Produced byJohn C. Wilson, theBroadway production opened on January 15, 1939 at theMusic Box Theatre, where it ran for 129 performances. Directed by Coward, the revue starredBeatrice Lillie.
This show originated in 1932 under the title ofWords and Music, with a London production at theAdelphi Theatre. It consisted of a series of sketches, some with songs. Seven years later, it was revised for Broadway asSet to Music. The song "Mad Dogs and Englishmen", one of Coward's best-known songs,[1] was dropped, and four new songs were added. The sketches included "AFragonard Impression", and "Midnight Matinée".
Beatrice Lillie sang a parody about being a successful singer in "Rug of Persia" while "weaving an oriental arras." The song ends with a reference to the popularCole Porter song "My Heart Belongs to Daddy". Playing an actress who becomes progressively more drunk, Lillie sang "I Went to a Marvellous Party".[2] Lillie played Mrs. John Illsworth-Poindexter in the sketch "Madame Dines Alone", leading into the song "Never Again". She was also The Countess in a railway station with Sarah Burton, Kenneth Carton, Victor Cutrar, Ray Dennis, Sanders Draper, Hugh French,Gladys Henson, Robert Shackelton, and Gilbert Wilson in "Secret Service."[3]
Maidie Andrews was La Marquise De Sauriole whileRichard Haydn appeared as Edwin Carp, a fish mimic in a mad vaudeville act ("Fish Mimicry").John Hopper Mathews played the minor role of Lady Patricia Gainton.[3][4]
‡ this number was not included inWords and Music
The Noël Coward Society's website, drawing on performing statistics from the publishers and thePerforming Rights Society, names "Mad About the Boy" as Coward's most popular song. "The Stately Homes of England" (originally from Coward'sOperette) was also among the top ten most performed Coward songs. "The Party's Over Now" and "...Marvellous Party" rank in the top thirty Coward songs.[1]