[Coward (Noel)].- Theatre Interest An original costume design...

[Coward (Noel)].- Theatre Interest

An original costume design by Gladys Calthrop for Yvonne Printemps as Melanie in the first production of Noel Coward's 'Conversation Piece', signed and annotated by the designer, pen and black ink with watercolour over pencil on brown paper, fabric samples affixed to top left corner, framed and glazed, overall size 52 x 41.5cm, 1933-34.

***Yvonne Printemps was Coward's first choice for the leading role of Mélanie, despite the fact that she spoke no English. Printemps agreed to play the part, and with the aid of her future husband, Pierre Fresnay, manged to learn the words. The London production had a run of only 177 performances, because Printemps had to leave the cast to fulfil a film commitment in France, and no suitable replacement could be found.
Gladys Calthrop (1894-1980) first met Noël Coward in Italy, in 1921, and they became lifelong friends and collaborators.