Christopher Cazenove dies age 64

 Pictured left to right Sophie Ward, Liza Goddard, Giles Fagan and Christopher Cazenove (17 Dec 1945-7 April 2010)

I am sure everybody associated with Eastbourne theatres and theatres around the country together with all theatre goers will join me in expressing sadness at the news of the death of actor Christopher Cazenove.


As a member of the Friends Of The Devonshire Park Theatre I am sure the Chairman ,Committee and all members won't mind me publicly expressing sadness at this news on their behalf as well as mine. Our sincere  condolences and thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.

Chris Cazenove will always be fondly remembered for his roles as Ben Carrington in the soap Dynasty and as Charlie Tyrrell in the long running TV series The Duchess Of Duke Street. However, he had a very long and varied career in film, television and, of course, in the theatre.

Only last October audiences in Eastbourne thoroughly enjoyed Christopher Cazenove, Liza Goddard and their fellow cast members in the classic comedy The Grass Is Greener. http://celebritygreenroom.blogspot.com/search/label/the%20grass%20is%20greener

After the first night performance Christopher and the rest of the cast spent a great deal of time with the members of The Friends Of The Devonshire Park Theatre in a very friendly atmosphere. It was then I had the opportunity to take several pictures including these.

I am sure that anybody who met Christopher that night will, as I am, be very shocked as well as saddened, at this news as he appeared in excellent health. Yet in February, this year, he developed Septicaemia and yesterday (7 April 2010) he passed away from the effects of the illness at St Thomas' Hospital, London.

I read recently that Christopher Cazenove NEVER refused to sign autographs and always took time out to greet those that wanted to meet him. I find that very believable.

The acting fraternity lost a legend on 7 April 2010. He will be extremely missed.

If you worked with or were lucky enough to meet the late Christopher Cazenove please feel free to use the add comment link below this entry.

The Grass Is Greener Review Liza Goddard Christopher Cazenove

The Grass Is Greener
Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne
5-10 Oct 2009

 (Performance seen 5 Oct)

Cast in order of appearance

Hilary - Liza GoddardVictor - Christopher CazenoveCharles - Jack EllisHattie - Sophie WardSellars - Giles Fagan

Yet again at the Devonshire Park Theatre we have a very impressive cast - this time it's for Hugh and Margaret Williams comedy classic The Grass Is Greener.

It's a simple story - the long time married Hilary is suddenly tempted by the handsome tourist Charles who makes an unplanned detour whilst touring their country home.
Husband Charles's aim is to win her back. Hattie is Hilary's best friend (and has always had feelings for Victor) and Sellars is the loyal family butler who finds himself stuck in the middle of all the hilarity.
Any good?
Excellent actually. It's also good to watch a comedy that is far removed from the traditional farce-type play.
With a cast of well known, established, actors like these you'd be hard pressed to fault the acting - and you can't.
In fact there isn't a lot more that you can say about this extremely funny show and the only fault with it is nothing to do with the actors.
It is shorter compared to almost any other play by about 20-30 minutes.
It is entertaining throughout but you do feel that you have been left a little short changed in terms of enjoyment time.
It is this factor alone that snatches a five star rating from this show.
Don't let this put you off seeing this thoroughly entertaining comedy though.
It's better to really enjoy a good show that is relatively short than to have to endure a longer really boring play.

It's a bonus when a cast is blessed with some of the friendliest names in show business. Best known as Ben Carrington in Dynasty Christopher Cazenove spent a lot of time chatting to the members of The Friends Of The Devonshire Park Theatre after the show. as did the lovely Liza Goddard who even had her cute little dog Cassie tagging along whilst Sophie Ward and Giles Fagan also mingled with the members signing autographs and happily having their pictures taken. Recent Coronation Street actor Jack Ellis was unable to attend the event for personal reasons. Actually on the subject of Jack Ellis he was somewhat of a revelation as the suave American ,Charles. I found that this role suited him far more than the rather wooden bookie Harry Mason he had to play in Coronation Street.

Just to recap this is a great show if you get the chance to see it - just make sure you book that taxi home that little bit earlier!