[‘What a play!’: Percy Merriman, musician and songwriter, mainstay of the Roosters troupe of entertainers.] Autograph Letter Signed to theatre historian W. J. Macqueen-Pope, recalling Sir George Alexander’s 1896 production of ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’.

From the Macqueen-Pope papers (see his entry in the Oxford DNB). Merriman was accorded the honour of an episode of the BBC’s Desert Island Discs in 1964. 2pp, 12mo. Signed ‘Percy’ and addressed to ‘Dear Popie’. In good condition, lightly aged, with one dog-eared corner and folded twice for postage. Begins: ‘Am not of course seeking any publicity over your book on St. James Theatre [published in 1958] only wish I could help more. / You know of course Allan Ainsworth [sic, for ‘Aynesworth’] is alive the doyen of the Garrick Club! He played often with G[eorge]. A[lexander]. - in Pinero & Wilde. In the Prisoner [of Zenda, 1896] he was the young artist - charming looking young man. Another lovely young woman was in cast. Lily Hanbury! H. M. Vernon [sic, for W. H. Vernon] was Col. Sapt & Franklin Dyall young Fritz Von Tarlenheim [Dyall was in fact ‘Josef’, while ‘Von Tarlenheim’ was played by Arthur Royston] / There was a marvellous duel in prologue - [...] G. A. very fine swordsman’. He ends, after a short paragraph beginning ‘What a play!’: ‘Cherio old man[.] No reply wanted’.