Beatrice Lillie

Born and raised in Toronto, comedian and singer Beatrice Lillie eventually found fame on both the London stage and Broadway. Lillie's career stretched from her English debut in 1914 (as a part of the musical +Charlot's Revue) to a 1964 part in Noel Coward's +Blithe Spirit. Coward, in fact, wrote several shows and songs especially for Lillie. The five cuts that open this CD, including "Marvelous Party" and "Mad About the Boy," are from Coward's Broadway vehicle for Lillie, +Set to Music. In addition to the Coward material, this mix of '30s-era tracks features other songs Lillie performed in numerous plays and musicals during her prime. Topped off with informative liner notes and very decent transfers from the original 78s, A Marvelous Party features Lillie in all her comic and cabaret glory. ~ Stephen Cook, Rovi