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Backstage after Erdem’s most recent London fashion week show, he explained that his inspiration this season was Adele Astaire, Fred Astaire’s sister, who married into the British aristocracy.

During the war years she volunteered in London at the Ameri­can Red Cross, dancing with the troops and writing letters for the wounded G.I.’s to send home, signing them, in a moving show of how her fame had receded, “Adele Astaire, Fred’s sister” — and there she will always remain, “Fred’s sister.”

Fifty years of acting experience have made Mr. Langella so adroit that he is credible even when dropping Noël Coward, President Kennedy and Adele Astaire, Fred’s sister, into the same Cape Cod luncheon-and-dance encounter.