Sail Away

Published Tuesday 17 June 2008 at 11:15 by Mark Shenton

Ian Marshall Fisher’s invaluable archival, sometimes archaeological exercise in retrieving past musical theatre glories is back for its 18th season. And while the series has hitherto invariably concentrated on celebrating the mostly forgotten works of American musical theatre writers, this time around it has uncovered a strangely neglected piece by Noel Coward.

But Sail Away in fact originally received its premiere on Broadway in 1961, not in the West End, only setting sail for London a year later. It brought Elaine Stritch to the Savoy for the first time to reprise her role as Mimi Paragon, actress-turned-cruise ship host on a British leisure ship. But if Stritch later became a Savoy Hotel fixture, and is due back here soon in her latest cabaret show, Sail Away has never been seen since then.

All credit, then, to Fisher for dusting it down - but if it is not quite shipshape in terms of its construction (or, on this occasion, execution), it stays merrily afloat on the pleasures and multiple treasures of its effervescent score.

Coward, who provided his own book, music and lyrics, created this throwback to a Cole Porter seafaring musical like Anything Goes long after that particular ship had sailed, and although his story of conflicting romances at sea needs to be thrown overboard, the songs fairly fizzle with wit, intelligence and style.

It doesn’t help, however, that Penny Fuller - inheriting Stritch’s role - is sometimes too tentative in her delivery. Given that the actors are “on book” for the concert performances, she should simply consult hers more frequently instead of stumbling along. But there are significant saving graces in some of the younger casting, notably the fine discovery of handsome Henry Luxemburg as the passenger who develops a passion for Mimi, and Josh Canfield and Anna Lowe as another refreshing couple newly in love.