Richard Smith On A Celebrity Night
Out to Celebrate The Work Of Noel Coward

I've BEEN to a marvellous party. With Robbie and Elton and Sting. A Twenties cabaret revue, no less in the Park Lane Hotel Ballroom, that was perfect down to the last detail - from the art deco venue to the bow ties and ball gowns. This star-studded gala is a curtain raiser for Twentieth Century Blues - the album of interpretations of Noel Coward songs to be released in April - and, like the record, is a fund-raiser for the Red Hot Aids charitable trust. But, thanks to organisers Tris Penna, Neil Tennant and Simon Watney, it's also a grand tribute to the great man.

Earlier in the day Neil Tennant argued quite convincingly that Noel Coward, with his songs full of "decadence, satire, sentiment and beautiful melody", pret-ty much invented pop music. The artists Tennant invited to appear here and on the album are intended to form a little history of British pop - an idea rein-forced by a stage design built around a giant, and ever so BritePop, Union jack.

This is also Sir Elton john's first night out as hey! an out knight, and he gets to kick the whole caboodle off with the album's title track 'Twentieth century blues,' which he attacks with considerable gusto as a big, jazzy, err, blues, rais-ing his eyes wigward for the lines about how "blues value is news value". In between the musical acts, as the scenery and instruments are discreetly shifted, Ned Sherrin and a cavalcade of stars of stage and screen celebrate Coward the wit. And, when the scenery takes a little bit too long to be shifted, we're treat-ed to some of Mr Sherrin's own humorous theatrical anecdotes. And, by Heaven, swear that one about the Anne Frank play gets funnier each time he tells it.

Suede's version of 'Poor little rich girl' is - to this poor boy's ears - one of the best things they've ever done. A perfect pairing, perhaps because Brett could be singing this song to himself. Together with wailing guest vocalist Raissa, they transform it into a beautifully dark and spiteful drone. But before you can say "there's life to the old girl yet", Maianne Faithfull swans on stage like sex on 50-year-old legs and gives a rendition of 'Mad about the boy' so steamy (Lord knows I'm not a schoolgirl...") I nearly choke on my Mars bar.

As the crowd goes predictably bankers I manage to reposition my chair so I can see the face of Noel Coward's lover, Graham Payn, who's sitting a mere table away from me, and watch him mouth those wonderful words. Imagine being at a show that celebrates the life and work of the love of your life, just being there and hearing all those fantastic songs about searching for that great man, about how you keep losing him and about finally finding him - which means you. A priceless moment. But a private one. Everyone else is soon busi-ly giving Marianne a standing ovation so riotous it makes Altamonte look like a scene from Hay Fever.

I've barely had time to run over and ask Kylie for her autograph ( "It's for a friend - he's a hairdresser..." "Not another one . .")" when lawks! Noel Coward walks on stage! Hang on, it's actually the totally ace diddy lothario Neil Honnon of The Divine Comedy doing 'Marvellous Party'. At first, straight ( but still camp as a poodle trying to tap dance), then attacking it as an ironic sonic Rave anthem. Neil and the boys bugger it up first time round - Hannon's vocals are mixed way too low, so he halts it halfway through with a flick of his limp wrist. Which, quite possibly because everyone here is by now pissed ragged, makes Honnon a hero. At the end of the second attempt he gets the second standing ovation of the night. "Hurrah," says everyone. "Thank you luvies," says Neil. Chap.

The Pet Shop Bays get to do two songs. Which is nice. And they manage to be serious, comic, light-hearted, sentimental and brittle. All at the same time! First there's their rather lovely contribution to Twentieth Century Blues, 'Sail away', fall world-weariness and dreams of escape - very Pet Shop Boys) and 'If love were all' (a former PSB B-side): "I believe the more you love a man, the more you give your trust, the more you're bound to lose." A bitter-sweet vein that'5 continued when the bays are followed by Sting, who sings 'I'll follow my secret heart' to a plaintive harp accompaniment. And by teen black British soul stress Shola Ama purring, purely through 'Someday I'll find you'. But you know Noel Coward songs aren't just there for the nasty things in life.

So on comes young Roboie Williams to do what the nation's favourite fallen angel does best. Coming on like the world's campest pub singer. more mad dog than Englishman, he sets up and rocks out on a boisterous 'There are bad times just around the corner'. By the end the audience have gone completely mad about the boy. Curtain dawn. Lights up. What a way to end the night. And what a way to end the century. Noel Coward would have been so terribly, terribly proud and pleased. Me? I couldn't have liked it more. A first class night out.

The album Twentieth Century Blues will be released on April 13th.
The concert will be broadcast by BBC Radio 2 and BBC Television on April 17th.