A Talent to Confuse

I have just received a clipping of “Mad About the Man?” (by Patrick Pacheco, Dec. 12) and need to correct your statement that Noel Coward, “at age 24, broke through with ‘London Calling,’ a revue of his own making starring Gertrude Lawrence. . . .” Throughout his career, Coward certainly regarded “London Calling” as his very own, but its “book,” if revues can be said to have such, was shared with Ronald Jeans, and Philip Braham was responsible for half the score.

At the time, Coward rankled at being teamed with Jeans, who was in 1923 a much more experienced deviser of revue sketches (just as Braham, who had recently composed “Limehouse Blues,” was a more proven revue composer). But the real creative genius behind “London Calling,” the impresario Andre Charlot, insisted on the participation of both Jeans and Braham. The resulting revue was generally thought of as its era’s best.

As is well known, Coward had “failed” an audition for Charlot. Many reasons exist for the great man’s denial of Charlot as creator of “London Calling.” But facts are facts. And yes, I’m writing a biography of Charlot.

JAMES ROSS MOORE

Cambridge, England