Gertrude Lawrence
Gertrude Lawrence (1898-1952) was a musical stage star–singer and actress. She was born in London. In 1923, she was introduced to American audiences when she became the first British female performer to star in a Broadway show. It was a musical review by Noel Coward called “London Calling.” Subsequently she was featured in two Gershwin shows including “Lady in the Dark.” The NY Times review called her “a goddess.” In 1951 she won the lead in the original cast of the” King and I” for which she won a Tony for “best actress.”
In 1933, she starred in a Cole Porter show called “Nymph Errant.” Wickipedia says, “The somewhat controversial story concerned a young English lady intent upon losing her virginity. Porter considered the score his best because of its worldliness and sexual sophistication. The musical was produced in London in 1933 and received its US premiere in 1982.”
Today, I heard this Cole Porter song, “How Could We be Wrong?” by Gertrude Lawrence from “Nymph Errant” on the radio. I thought it was beautiful, and the host agreed, although he commented that the song sort of vanished over the years.
This is Gertrude Lawrence, but Maude Maggart has a current recording. —Paul Goldfinger