Editing Michael Hordern (section)

====Theatre Royal, Brighton====

[[File:Coral Browne in 1931.jpg|thumb|right|[[Coral Browne]], with whom Hordern had an affair during ''Nina'']]

In early 1955 Hordern was asked by the British theatre [[Theatre producer|manager and producer]] [[Binkie Beaumont]] to take the lead in [[André Roussin]]'s comedy ''Nina'', directed by [[Rex Harrison]]. The play, which starred [[Edith Evans]], [[Lockwood West]], and [[James Hayter (actor)|James Hayter]], transferred from [[Oxford]] to the [[Theatre Royal, Brighton|Theatre Royal]] in [[Brighton]]. Beaumont's request came at short notice because Hordern's predecessor had proved inadequate. The play was cursed with bad luck: Evans fell ill and was replaced midway by an understudy who neglected to learn her lines; Harrison frequently upset the cast, which resulted in reduced morale. When Evans did return, she walked off stage and left after seeing empty seats in the front row.<ref>Hordern, p. 102.</ref>

Hordern regretted his decision to take part in Roussin's ''Nina'', but admitted that the allure of appearing alongside Evans had got the better of him. Harrison held auditions to replace his leading lady and settled on the Australian-American actress [[Coral Browne]].<ref>Hordern, p. 103.</ref> Hordern and Browne grew close, aided by their mutual dislike of their disciplinarian director. They fell in love and had an affair which lasted for the duration of the run.<ref name="HORDERN105">Hordern, p. 105.</ref> Years later Hordern confessed: "I kept falling in love. It is a common complaint among actors. You cannot be at such close quarters, mind and body, without being sorely tempted."<ref name="TELEOBIT" />

Hordern and Harrison's dislike for one another was evident to the rest of the cast.<ref name="Hordern 104">Hordern, p. 104.</ref> One night, after a performance of ''Nina'' in [[Eastbourne]], and having felt that he had "acted [his] socks off",<ref name="HORDERNQUOTE104">Quote by the author; Hordern, p. 104.</ref> Hordern, along with the rest of the cast, were berated by Harrison who accused them of producing a piece "not fit for the end of a pier".<ref name="Hordern 104"/> ''Nina'' transferred to the Haymarket Theatre, London, not long after the incident but it was unsuccessful and closed after five weeks. "The play was fine", opined Hordern, "it was a disaster because of Rex Harrison."<ref name="HORDERN105" /> Hordern and Browne's relationship ended shortly after the play closed and Hordern set about rebuilding his marriage with Eve, who had long known of the affair.<ref>Hordern, p. 106.</ref>