I was reminded last week of one of Noel Coward's classic British comedy songs. The reason for their success was not just their biting wit, but the fact that they were so often all too true - uncomfortably so, for those lampooned in and by them.
Here's "The Stately Homes Of England".
Another wince-inducing song was "Mad Dogs and Englishmen". Being from a colonial English background, this rings all too true! It's why English-speakers in South Africa were often called "Rooinek" - "Red Neck" - because the burning heat of the African sun did precisely that to their necks.
Then there's his advice to parents of aspiring actresses: "Don't put your daughter on the stage, Mrs. Worthington".
As a frequent participant in serious amateur dramatics with the Cape Performing Arts Board (CAPAB) in Cape Town, South Africa, one couldn't help but realize how true that observation was!
I'm very grateful to my parents for raising me on a diet of Noel Coward's music, plays and films, among others.
Peter
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