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Dateline: 22nd May, 2007
In recent months, the theatre world has lost a trio of stalwarts. As a consequence, there has been a plethora of celebrations, first of Peter Hepple, then Steven Pimlott and on 22nd May, Sheridan Morley. Sherry, as he was affectionately known, was a man of many parts but above all, a man of the theatre. His father was Robert Morley and his grandmother Gladys Cooper and so it could irrefutably be stated that the theatre ran in his blood. A mark of Sheridan Morley's popularity was a house at the Gielgud Theatre that even Daniel Radcliffe and Equus would have been proud to own that evening. At midday on a Tuesday, there was hardly an empty seat as a score or so of this larger than life character's friends spoke, sang and recited in a 90 minutes performance compered by his wife, Ruth Leon. The list of friends was impressive, starting out with Christopher Matthew, who touchingly talked of a lifelong friendship, one of many commenced in Oxford days and even before. As the "verbal photo album" spread its pages, we discovered a man who following inattentive schooldays and a poor third at Oxford became a success many times over. Sheridan Morley was, inter alia, an ITN newscaster and a presenter of Late Night Line-Up on TV; a radio presenter whose work included the ever popular Melodies For You, Kaleidoscope and Radio 2's Arts Programme; a contributor to Punch; a theatre critic for more publications than it would be possible to remember, most recently the Daily Express; as well as a writer of 36 books and three stage shows, most memorably Nöel and Gertie, a homage to the man with whom he was perhaps most closely associated. The stars just kept rolling on with speakers including the likes of Miriam Margolyes, Simon Williams, Edward Fox, Oliver Ford Davies, Jenny Seagrove, Sir Simon Callow (who made a special journey from Cannes) and, pleasingly, Corin Redgrave, now beginning to regain fitness after such a long illness. They had a fine old time reminiscing about the man whom they knew so well and reading from pieces by, about or associated with him. The event also featured songs from, the musicals that he loved so much, with two subjects of his books, Nöel Coward and Stephen Sondheim to the fore. Performers included Steve Ross who had flown over from New York to take part, Liz Robertson, Rosemary Ashe, Patricia Hodge and, bringing the house down with the last song of all, I'm Still Here from Follies, Annabel Leventon. There was one other voice heard that must surely have wrought tears from so many members of an audience packed with this popular theatre man's friends. That was an all too brief recording of Sheridan Morley himself reading a short extract from Nöel Coward. Ruth Leon also announced the inaugural Sheridan Morley Prize for Best Theatre Biography. This is to be administered by Oberon Books and more details will be revealed in early June during a formal launch at the Garrick Club. This was a memorable occasion and a touching and appropriate tribute to a big man who has been so much missed in theatres and the broadcast media since his untimely death. He will be fondly remembered by so many for what Edward Fox described as his "exuberantly charming style", his renowned generosity and unique talents as an anecdotalist. Philip Fisher Please note that all three Archive indices are very long and will therefore take some time to download.
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