Noel Coward Murder Mysteries, Marcy Kahan - Death At The Desert Inn (British Drama - Comedy)

Death at the Desert Inn
Scene of one of Noel Coward’s greatest cabaret triumphs is the setting for a “highly probable murder mystery”, complete with Judy Garland, a showgirl, a Broadway agent, an unlikely croupier, and a US Congressman. Another crime to be solved with the Master’s favourite weapon: wit. Director: Ned Chaillet Judy Garland: Belinda Lang Joe: Jake Broder Mercedes: Meredith MacNeil Nicholas: Peter Swander Floyd: Nathan Osgood Babyface: William Hootklns

A far-fetched tale focused around Noel Coward’s highly successful engagement at the Desert Inn, Las Vegas, in 1956 (which led to a new and lucrative career as a cabaret artist and character actor), Death at the Desert Inn had Coward (Malcolm Sinclair) investigating the death of a chorus-girl and becoming involved in a plot involving a would-be presidential candidate (Peter Swander) and a Jewish mafioso with the highly inappropriate moniker of Baby-Face Puccini (William Hootkins). To be honest, the whodunit side of the tale didn’t seem really significant; what was far more interesting was Kahan’s depiction of Coward’s sheer professionalism, as he overcame apparently insuperable odds (a dinner theatre audience more interested in eating, drinking and gambling than in the entertainment provided), and thereby reestablished himself as “The Master” on both sides of the Atlantic. Despite his apparent insouciance, Coward was genuinely concerned about his ability to fulfil the task; it was only down to sheer professionalism, coupled with a unique ability to work an audience, that his success was achieved. More importantly, the Las Vegas experience helped Coward understand the importance of being himself; unlike Britain, America in the mid-1950s seemed more tolerant of difference. No one expected him to tell jokes, or conform to any particular public persona (as was the case in Britain). For this reason Coward decided to quit Britain for good and become an ex-pat, making his home in Jamaica and taking on character parts in Hollywood as well as British films. The director of this new play was Ned Chaillet.