Firefly

Firefly Review

About 20 mi (32 km) east of Ocho Rios near Port Maria, Firefly was once Sir Noël Coward's vacation home and is now a national monument managed by Chris Blackwell's Island company. Although the setting is Eden-like, the house is surprisingly spartan, considering that the playwright often entertained jet-setters and royalty. He wrote High Spirits, Quadrille, and other plays here, and his simple grave is on the grounds next to a small stage where his works are occasionally performed. Recordings of Coward singing about "mad dogs and Englishmen" echo over the lawns. Tours include a walk through the house and grounds where Coward is buried. The view from the house's hilltop perch is one of the best on the north coast, making Firefly well worth the price of admission. A tour must be arranged in advance by phone.