Ace of Clubs
This musical created in 1950 was written, composed and directed by Noël Coward. Tom Arnold opened it at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, on 16 May 1950, followed by more tryouts at the Liverpool Empire Theatre(2 weeks) and the Birmingham Alhambra Theatre (2 weeks).
It transferred to the Cambridge Theatre, London, on 7 July 1950 where it ran for 211 performances until 6 January 1951. The cast included Pat Kirkwood, Sylvia Cecil, Graham Payn, Jean Carson and Myles Eason. Mantovani was the musical director.
The show is set in a 1949 London nightclub called "Ace of Clubs". Nightclub singer Pinkie Leroy falls in love with a sailor. Pinkie and her lover get mixed up with gangsters, a lost package and a missing diamond necklace. In the end, the police arrest the perpetrators, and Pinkie gets her man.
Despite its modest run, it contained several songs that survived independently, in Coward's later cabaret acts and elsewhere, including "Sail Away" and "I Like America." A CD of the original London cast recording was released in 2004
Synopsis
Benny runs the Soho nightclubs "The Ace of Clubs" for the owner, Rita. Felix, the compère, introduces the club's girls, who perform their opening number. Benny plans the pickup of a parcel with a gangster, Smiling Snyder. The parcel is in the cloakroom wrapped in a raincoat. When Snyder forcibly steals a kiss from Pinkie Leroy, the club's star, in the middle of her act, a sailor named Harry punches Snyder, who draws his gun and fires. Pinkie takes the raincoat to cover her skimpy costume and escapes with Harry.
Harry and Pinkie discover the parcel in the raincoat, but it falls out and Harry finds it after Pinkie goes back to the club. Benny is already looking for the missing parcel, and Rita, who is in love with him, realises that Benny is involved with the gangsters. At rehearsal the next afternoon, Harry comes by to see Pinkie. Detective-lnspector Warrilove arrives to investigate a jewel robbery and shooting. He suspects Snyder. Benny discourages Pinkie from becoming involved with Harry. That evening Snyder and his associate, Guy, kidnap Harry during the show, but he escapes. Pinkie, afraid for Harry's safety, promises Benny that she will get the parcel. Harry is hidden, and after Benny leaves, he and Pinkie meet.
The next day, Harry return with the parcel, suggesting that they give it to the police. Pinkie disagrees, and they argue. That evening, one of the girls mistakes the parcel for her birthday present and opens it, finding the purloined necklace. Snyder and Gus pick up the parcel in exchange for cash. Rita hears that the stolen necklace has been traced to the club. She asks the gangsters to leave. In the club, Warrilove notices the necklace, which the birthday girl is wearing, and he follows her. Snyder and Gus open the parcel to find the birthday present, a pair of falsies. They return to the club, and Worrilove catches them. All ends happily for Benny and Rita as well as Pinkie and Harry.
Musical Numbers
Top of the morning – Baby and the Ace of Clubs Girls
My kind of man – Pinkie
This could be true – Pinkie, Harry
Nothing can last for ever – Rita
Something about a sailor – Harry
I'll never, never know – Pinkie
Three juvenile delinquents – The Delinquents
Sail away – Harry
Josephine – Pinkie
Would you like to stick a pin in my balloon –
In a boat, on a lake, with my darling – Pinkie, Harry
I like America – Harry
Why does love get in the way so? – Pinkie
Evening in summer – Rita
Baby's bottle – Baby, Mavis and Yvonne
Chase me, Charlie – Pinkie
Recordings
Tracks from the original cast recording can be heard on Noël Coward - The Great Shows (CD: EMI 7243 5 21808 2)
The most complete original London cast recording is on CD CS002 (Bayview Records, 2004). Newly remastered with two orchestral tracks by Mantovani and the Cambridge Theatre Orchestra plus bonus tracks by the composer.
1. Nothing Can Last Forever – Sylvia Cecil/I’d Never, Never Know – Pat Kirkwood/ There’s Something About A Sailor – Graham Payn
2. My Kind Of Man – Pat Kirkwood/This Could Be True – Pat Kirkwood, Graham Payne/Josephine – Pat Kirkwood
3. Sail Away – Graham Payn/Why Does Love Get In The Way? – Pat Kirkwood/In A Boat On The Lake With My Darling – Pat Kirkwood, Graham Payn
4. Chase Me, Charlie – Pat Kirkwood/Evening In Summer – Sylvia Cecil/I Like America – Graham Payn
5. Three Juvenile Delinquents – Colin Kemball, Peter Tuddenham, Norman Warwick
6. Orchestral Selection – Part 1 : I Like America/Nothing Can Last Forever/My Kind Of Man/Chase me, Charlie – Cambridge Theatre Orchestra conducted by Mantovani
7. Orchestral Selection – Part 2 : Why Does Love Get In The Way?/In A Boat On The Lake With My Darling/There’s Something About A Sailor/Sail Away – Cambridge Theatre Orchestra conducted by Mantovani Musical Director: Mantovani Bonus Tracks:
8. Josephine – Noel Coward
9. Why Does Love Get In The Way? – Noel Coward with the Café de Paris Orchestra conducted by Syd Simone
10. I Like America – Noel Coward with the Café de Paris Orchestra conducted by Syd Simone
11. Sail Away – Noel Coward
Cast
In order of appearance:
Elaine - Eileen Tatler
Rita Marbury - Sylvia Cecil
Benny Lucas - Raymond Young
Sammy Blake - Robb Stewart
Felix Felton - Myles Eason
The Ace of Club Girls: Dawn O'Hara - Sylvia Verney, Doreen harvey - Margaret Miles, Sunny Claire - June Whitfield, Ruby Fowler - Erica Yorke, Greta hughes - Pamela Devis, Betty Clements - Lorna Drewes, Mimi Joshua - Vivien Merchant, June April - Lisbeth Kearns
Baby Belgrave - Jean Carson
Hercules Brothers: Victor Harman, Ronald Francis, Stanley Howlett
Joseph Snyder - Elwyn Brook-Jones
Gus - Patrick Westwood
Pinkie Leroy - Pat Kirkwood
Harry Hornby - Grham Payn
Clarice - Bubbly Rogers
Eva - Renee Hill
Yvonne Hall - Jean Inglis
Mavis Dean - Gail Kendall
Detective Inspector Warriloe - Jack Lambert
Policeman - Michael Darbyshire
Juvenile Deliquents: Peter Tuddenham, John Warwick, Colin Kenball
1st Plain Clothes Man - Manfred Priestley
2nd Plain Clothes Man - Christopher Calthrop
Drummer - Don Fitz Stanford
Waiters: George Selfe, Richard Gill, Jacques Gautier
Night Cliub Habitues and Visitors: Nina Alvis, Irene Derek, Hilda Fayre, Julia Hand, Diana Houlston, Lorna Kilner, Melanie Paul, Claire Pollock, Barbara Dalby Smith, Susan Swinford, Dorothy Thomas, Madge White, Stella White, Peter Armsten, Charles Belchier, Peter Fairaine, George Humphries, Tony Hilton, Vernon Kelso, Carl lacey, Herbewrt lister, Michael Mellinger, Arthur Norman, Stuart Pearce, John raymonde, Philip Rose, Frank Singuinea, Bernard Verrey.
