Pacific 1860

First presented by Prince Littler on behalf of theTheatre Royal Drudy Lane Ltd. at the Theatre Royal in London on 19 December 1946 and was the first post-war production by Coward. The show was not a success and ran for only four months, closing on 12 April 1947 (129 performances).

Noël had hoped that this lavish piece of escapism would score a hit with a war-weary public. It has been described as 'Bitter Sweet in a tropical setting'. Mary Martin was the lead, with Graham Payn and Maidie Andrews, Sylvia Cecil and Winifred Ingram. The play ran for four months when Littler suddenly gave two weeks notice for its closure. The whole venture had placed a huge strain on Noël himself, Grahm Payn who was acting beyond his range and Marty Martin who had become fractious and argumentative in rehearsal and in a state of permanent feud with Gladys Calthrop, Noël's long time friend and the show's creative designer.

The musical play originally featured two risque songs that Coward used extensively in his cabaret act; 'Uncle Harry' (removed before production but later brought back) and 'Alice Is At It Again' (removed and not used in the production). The score with 'Uncle Harry' and if you include Alice Is At It Again (intended for the show but never used), contains some of Coward's best post-war work with the poignant 'I Saw No Shadow on the Sea'

The day after the first night Noël writes: "The blackest and beastliest day of the year. To begin with a blast of abuse from the press. Not one good notice, the majority being frankly vile. I don't usually mind but I am overtired."