dramatic

[Ruth Draper, American actress and dramatist, whose monologues influence Joyce Grenfell and others.] Autograph Letter Signed to ?Sir David [Ross]?, going into great detail about her eating arrangements while performing at Oxford.

Author: 
Ruth Draper (1884-1956), American actress and dramatist, whose monologues influenced many including Joyce Grenfell [Sir David Ross [W. D. Ross], Provost of Oriel, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University]
Publication details: 
5 April [no year but presumably between 1941 and 1944]. Cambridge.
£56.00

Draper inspired characters in two of Agatha Christie?s books. Among others impressed by her work were Bernard Shaw, Thornton Wilder, John Gielgud, Katharine Hepburn, Maurice Chevalier, Laurence Olivier, Henry James, Henry Adams, Edith Wharton, Joyce Grenfell, Emma Thompson, David Mamet and Maureen Lipman. See Ross?s entry in the Oxford DNB. 3pp, 12mo, on bifolium of light-grey paper. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once for postage. Addressed to ?Dear Sir David? and signed ?Ruth Draper.? Presumably written during Ross?s Vice-Chancellorship, 1941-1944.

[Ben Webster [Benjamin Nottingham Webster], actor-manager who built the Adelphi.] Autograph Letter Signed, thanking Henry Spicer on behalf of the Dramatic College, Covent Garden, for a financial ‘Godsend’.

Author: 
Ben Webster [Benjamin Nottingham Webster] (1797-1882), actor-manager who built the Adelphi Theatre, London [Henry Spicer]
Publication details: 
‘New Theatre Royal Adelphi / Jany 19th 1860’.
£45.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. On a bifolium the blank second leaf of which is laid down on part of a leaf from an album. Folded twice for postage. The recipient is ‘Henry Spicer Esq’, presumably a relation of the artist of the same name (d.1804; see ODNB), several of whose theatrical portraits are in the Garrick Club collection.

[Dorothy Tutin [Dame Dorothy Tutin], Shakespearian actress.] Autograph Card Signed to W. J. Macqueen-Pope, with typed article by him (‘Star in Spite of Herself’), his typed interview notes, and carbon of typed letter from him to Sir Andrew Caird.

Author: 
Dorothy Tutin [Dame Dorothy Tutin] (1930-2001), English Shakespearian actress [Walter James Macqueen-Pope (1888-1960); Sir Andrew Caird of Lord Northcliffe’s Associated Newspapers; RADA]
Publication details: 
ONE: Her ACS to MP, from Wyndham’s Theatre, postmarked London, 6 October 1953. TWO: Copy of TL from MP to Caird, 13 October 1953. The other two items without date or place, but contemporaneous.
£180.00

From the Macqueen-Pope papers. See his entry and hers in the Oxford DNB. Caird was Northcliffe’s right-hand man, and mainly associated with the Daily Mail. The four items are in fair condition, lightly aged and creased, with slight rust spotting from a paper clips. Items Two to Four are on carbon paper. ONE: ACS from Tutin to MP. Small unillustrated postcard, signed ‘Dorothy Tutin’. Reads: ‘I remember you very well - your fascinating letures at the Academy [i.e. London theatre school RADA, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art] - and shall be very happy to meet you for this article.

[Charles Haddon Chambers, Australian dramatist in England, lover of Dame Nellie Melba.] Autograph Letter Signed to Malcolm Watson, Daily Telegraph drama critic, regarding a play he wrote in New York, and a German production of his ‘Tyranny of Tears’.

Author: 
Charles Haddon Chambers [Charles Haddon Spurgeon Chambers] (1860-1921), Australian dramatist who settled in England, where he had an affair with Dame Nellie Melba [Malcolm Watson; Daily Telegraph]
Publication details: 
13 March [after 1900]; on letterhead of L’Hermitage, Monte-Carlo.
£65.00

Chambers is not mentioned in Dame Nellie Melba’s entry in the Oxford DNB. She met him in London in 1895, and their affair ended for unknown reasons in 1904. It is clearly the ‘notorious’ affair in whose fame Chambers ‘rejoiced to the last’, according to Somerset Maugham’s devastating assessment of the man in ‘A Writer’s Notebook’ (1946). Harry de Windt gives a markedly kinder account of Chambers in his ‘My Note-Book at Home and Abroad’ (1923). 2pp, 8vo. Bifolium. Twenty-seven lines of text. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. Signed 'C Haddon Chambers'.

[Charles Haddon Chambers, Australian dramatist in England, lover of Dame Nellie Melba.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘B. C.’, on subects including his performance with Herbert Beerbohm Tree before Queen Victoria at Balmoral.

Author: 
Charles Haddon Chambers [Charles Haddon Spurgeon Chambers] (1860-1921), Australian dramatist who settled in England, where he had an affair with Dame Nellie Melba
Publication details: 
No date [1894]; on letterhead of the Clarendon Hotel, 104 Prince’s Street, Edinburgh.
£80.00

Chambers is not mentioned in Dame Nellie Melba’s entry in the Oxford DNB. She met him in London in 1895, and their affair ended for unknown reasons in 1904. It is clearly the ‘notorious’ affair in whose fame Chambers ‘rejoiced to the last’, according to Somerset Maugham’s devastating assessment of the man in ‘A Writer’s Notebook’ (1946). Harry de Windt gives a markedly kinder account of Chambers in his ‘My Note-Book at Home and Abroad’ (1923). The recipient would appear to be Chambers’s agent. Regarding the content of this letter, see ‘The Theatre’, 1 November 1894: ‘Mr.

[Braham Murray, in his Century Theatre Company's inaugural season at the University Theatre, Manchester.] Autograph Notes for his production of Eugene O'Neill's 'Long Day's Journey into Night'.

Author: 
Braham Murray [Braham Sydney Murray, born Braham Goldstein] (1943-2018), director, one of five founding Artistic Directors, Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester [Eugene O'Neill]
Publication details: 
[1965. The Century Theatre at] the University Theatre, Manchester.
£450.00

An interesting artefact of what was to become the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. See Murray's Guardian obituary, 3 August 2018: 'Murray left Oxford in 1964 without sitting his finals but with a starry reputation.

[Braham Sydney Murray, theatre director: his first-ever production, for the Oxford University Dramatic Society.] Typescript of Brendan Behan's 'The Hostage', with extra pages covered with autograph directorial notes and stage directions.

Author: 
Braham Sydney Murray [born Braham Goldstein] (1943-2018), director, one of five founding Artistic Directors, Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester [Brendan Behan; Oxford University Dramatic Society]
Publication details: 
[Oxford University Dramatic Society, 1961.]
£600.00

For the background see Murray's 2014 autobiography 'The Worst It Can Be Is A Disaster', where he describes the production as 'a big production with its quasi-musical form. In such a large cast some of the actors were rather basic but some were superb. Michael Elwyn brought the house down as Monsewer [...] Michael York was very touching as the innocent Cockney soldier and the brother owners were expertly played by Ian Davidson, who later became a successful comedy scriptwriter, and the beautiful Canadian Nancy Lane, who is now a distinguished professor at Cambridge.

[Dodie Smith, author of 'The Hundred and One Dalmatians'.] Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'Dodie.') to 'Popie' [W. J. MacQueen-Pope], discussing her dalmatian dogs, failed musical, his latest book and offer of collaboration, petrol rationing.

Author: 
Dodie Smith [Dorothy Gladys Smith] (1896-1990), children's writer and playwright, author of 'The Hundred and One Dalmatians' (1956) and 'I Capture the Castle' (1948) [W. J. MacQueen-Pope (1888-1960)]
Publication details: 
23 and 28 January 1957. Each on letterhead of The Barretts, Finchingfield, Essex.
£120.00

See both their entries in the Oxford DNB. Two long letters. Both 2pp, 4to. Both letters on aged paper, creasing at the head. Each folded twice. Written in a close, elegant hand. ONE: 23 January 1957. Writing on behalf of herself and her 'friend' and business manager Alec Macbeth Beesley she begins: 'Our dear, dear Popie, | It really is fantastic. This morning I wrote you a tiny fan letter, combined with thanks for your radio mentions of me. I then carried it to the little pillar-box at the crossroads near here, in time to catch the 3.40 post.

[Christopher Fry's ownership inscription to his copy of a first edition by W. H. Auden.] Nones.

Author: 
W. H. Auden [Christopher Fry]
Publication details: 
London: Faber and Faber, 1952.
£25.00

72pp, 8vo. Tight copy on lightly-aged paper, in original blue cloth binding with dulled gilt on spine, panels of sunning to front board, and slight wear at head of spine. Ownership inscription on front free endpaper: 'Christopher Fry'. Auden, along with Eliot, was an inspiration to Fry, one of the foremost twentieth-century English practitioners of verse drama.

[Christopher Fry annotates a book about his work, inscribed to him by the author.] Christopher Fry | By Glenda Leeming.

Author: 
Christopher Fry (1907-2005), playwright, with Auden and Eliot a leading exponent of twentieth-century English verse drama; Glenda Leeming
Publication details: 
Twayne Publishers, A Division of G. K. Hall & Co., Boston. 1990.
£450.00

xv + 179pp, 8vo. Good tight copy in brown cloth, in worn printed dustwrapper. Frontispiece portrait of Fry. Inscribed on front free endpaper: 'To Christopher Fry | from | Glenda Leeming | with love'. In her preface Leeming notes Fry's 'patience and tolerance, as well as his helpful explanations of his plays, his intentions, and their realization'. The volume contains pencil annotations between pp.43 and 73, mostly relating to 'The Lady's not for Burning'. All are marginal indications of passages with vertical lines, apart from two annotations suggesting a degree of impatience with the text.

[Christopher Fry makes autograph corrections to a book about him.] Christopher Fry and his Verse Drama. [Insribed to the subject by the author, and with a Typed Letter Signed ('S. n. Ray').]

Author: 
Christopher Fry (1907-2005), playwright, with Auden and Eliot a leading exponent of twentieth-century English verse drama; Professor Sambhu Nath Roy, Principal of Raiganj University College
Publication details: 
Biswas Book Stall, 88, M. G. Road, Calcutta-9; Ghosh & Company, 12, Ramanath Majumder Street, Calcutta-9 [Calcutta, India]. 1996.
£200.00

[6] + viii + 266pp, 8vo. With four-page 'Select Bibliography' and three two-page lists of errata tipped-in at the rear. In plain brown cloth, with green printed dustwrapper glued-down (by publisher) onto the endpapers by the flaps. In good condition, lightly-aged, in lightly-worn dustrapper with closed tear at rear. Inscribed on the front free endpaper: 'To | Mr. Christopher Fry, | With best compliments | from the Author, | S. n. Ray | 7.4.98'. Fry makes around fifty autograph corrections to the text, giving a list of them over the rear endpapers.

[William Leman Rede, playwright.] Original holograph unpublished jeux d'esprit, addressed to and concerning Mrs Keeley. Signed 'Leman Rede/'.

Author: 
William Leman Rede (1802-1847), playwright who wrote farces and melodramas for the Olympic, Strand and Adelphi theatres in London [Mrs. Keeley]
Publication details: 
Signed and dated 'Leman Rede/ | 31. May 1841'.
£45.00

1p, 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Thin strip of paper from mount adhering to edge on blank reverse. Folded three times. Signed and dated at foot: 'Leman Rede/ | 31. May 1841'. Addressed at bottom left: 'To | Mrs.

[Sir Nigel Playfair, actor-manager of the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith.] Autograph Signature ('Nigel Playfair') on the programme for the lyric production 'When Crummles Played -' (based on characters from 'Nicholas Nickleby' by Charles Dickens).

Author: 
Sir Nigel Playfair [Sir Nigel Ross Playfair] (1874-1934), actor-manager of the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith [Charles Dickens, 'Nicholas Nickleby']
Publication details: 
The Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, W.6. [London] 'This (Thursday) evening, June 2nd, 1927, at 8 o'clock | Subsequent evenings at 8.30'. [Wightman Mountain & Andrews Ltd, Printers, 31 & 33, Victoria Street, S.W.]
£45.00

Four-page programme on bifolium, stapled into covers of shiny art paper. In fair condition, worn and aged, with rusted staples. Folded once. The covers are printed on the outside only. On the front are two illustrations in Georgian style, with the caption 'George Barnwell's Contrition'. On the back is a drawing of 'Portsmouth Old Theatre', 'Reproduced by kind permission of Arthur Moreland.' The small signature ('Nigel Playfair') is at top right of front cover. The first page of the programme carries five 'Producer's Notes' by 'Lessee & Manager' Playfair.

[William Leman Rede, playwright.] Original holograph unpublished jeux d'esprit, addressed to and concerning Mrs Keeley. Signed 'Leman Rede/'.

Author: 
William Leman Rede (1802-1847), playwright who wrote farces and melodramas for the Olympic, Strand and Adelphi theatres in London [Mrs. Keeley]
Publication details: 
Signed and dated 'Leman Rede/ | 31. May 1841'.
£45.00

1p, 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Thin strip of paper from mount adhering to edge on blank reverse. Folded three times. Signed and dated at foot: 'Leman Rede/ | 31. May 1841'. Addressed at bottom left: 'To | Mrs.

[Sir Nigel Playfair, actor-manager of the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith.] Autograph Signature ('Nigel Playfair') on the programme for the lyric production 'When Crummles Played -' (based on characters from 'Nicholas Nickleby' by Charles Dickens).

Author: 
Sir Nigel Playfair [Sir Nigel Ross Playfair] (1874-1934), actor-manager of the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith [Charles Dickens, 'Nicholas Nickleby']
Publication details: 
The Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, W.6. [London] 'This (Thursday) evening, June 2nd, 1927, at 8 o'clock | Subsequent evenings at 8.30'. [Wightman Mountain & Andrews Ltd, Printers, 31 & 33, Victoria Street, S.W.]
£45.00

Four-page programme on bifolium, stapled into covers of shiny art paper. In fair condition, worn and aged, with rusted staples. Folded once. The covers are printed on the outside only. On the front are two illustrations in Georgian style, with the caption 'George Barnwell's Contrition'. On the back is a drawing of 'Portsmouth Old Theatre', 'Reproduced by kind permission of Arthur Moreland.' The small signature ('Nigel Playfair') is at top right of front cover. The first page of the programme carries five 'Producer's Notes' by 'Lessee & Manager' Playfair.

[Old Hamptonians Amateur Dramatic Society, Hampton, Middlesex.] Manuscript minute book of committee meetings, each entry signed.

Author: 
Old Hamptonians Amateur Dramatic Society [OHADS], Hampton, Middlesex; Bernard Wigginton (1945-2018), Secretary; Richmond; Teddington; theatre
Publication details: 
[Old Hamptonians Amateur Dramatic Society, Hampton, Middlesex.] Between 7 June 1973 and 19 June 1975.
£220.00

196pp, 4to. In ruled notebook. Internally in fair condition, on aged and lightly-worn paper, with covers detached and worn. Providing an interesting view of the day to day challenges of amateur dramatic production in the 1970s. Each set of minutes is signed by one member of the committee. The first set, 7 June 1973, list Philip Rayner as chairman, Bernard Wigginton as secretary, Philip Hickson as Treasurer, with other committee members Gill Ager, Derek Barrett, Peter Orton and Sue Rowlands.

[John Philip Kemble, actor and manager of the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden.] Autograph Memorandum, signed 'J. Kemble.', regarding the 'Caducean Trident' of Albion, with an ink drawing of the same (a dragon with intertwining serpents).

Author: 
John Philip Kemble (1757-1823), distinguished actor and manager of the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, brother of Sarah Siddons and Charles Kemble
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£180.00

The text is on one side of a 13 x 16 cm piece of laid watermarked paper. The signature 'J. Kemble' is at bottom left, in slightly-darker ink than the fifteen lines of text. Lightly aged and with short closed tears at edges of two folds. Slight traces of brown-paper mount at top corners on reverse, which carries a capable ink drawing of 'the Caducean Trident' mentioned in the text: a dragon with two sets of wings, body stiff as a rod, encircled by two snakes.

[Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, 1953.] Typed and Autograph Drafts by playwright Christopher Fry, of prose and poetry for his screenplay of the documentary film 'A Queen Is Crowned'.

Author: 
Christopher Fry (1907-2005), playwright [Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, 1953; Laurence Olivier; Rank Organisation, London]
Publication details: 
[Production by the Rank Organisation, London. Released in 1953.]
£950.00

Seven items from the Christopher Fry papers, relating to the film 'A Queen Is Crowned', which was a British box office hit in coronation year, and was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. At the time of writing Fry was at the height of his popularity: around this time he had four plays running in the West End at once. 'A Queen Is Born' - billed as 'The only full-length feature of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II' - was made in Technicolour, produced by Castleton Knight for the Rank Organisation, with music by Guy Warrack, and with Fry's script narrated by Laurence Olivier.

[William Farren, leading Georgian actor.] Joint (William & John) Autograph Letters Signed (both 'W. Farren') to George Smith of Yarmouth Theatre & his brother John, encouraging John to work on a play for J. R. Planché at the Olympic Theatre, London.

Author: 
William Farren (1786-1861), leading Georgian actor [James Robinson Planché (1796-1880), dramatist, antiquary and Somerset Herald; Olympic Theatre, London; George and John Smith of Yarmouth]
Publication details: 
30 Brompton Square [London]. 3 September [1838].
£120.00

Farren's entry in the Oxford DNB concludes by describing him as 'a theatrical sophisticate, equally at home in period comedy and modern plays; he was, besides, one of the finest actors of his century'. From around 1821 Farren lived with the actress Mrs Faucit (Harriet Elizabeth Savill, née Diddear, 1789-1857), with whom he had two sons. An excellent item, casting vivid light on the Olympic Theatre of Madame Vestris and J. R. Planché in its late-Georgian heyday.

[Christopher Fry edits, as 'A. H. Harris': the Birth of a Literary Career] Thirteen numbers (1-11, 16, 17) of the 'Bedford Modern School Gazette', with 'B.M.S. Gazette Supplement'.

Author: 
Christopher Fry (1907-2005), playwright, [born Arthur Hammond Harris]; Bedford Modern School
Publication details: 
[Bedford Modern School.] Nos 1-11 (Feb. 1925 to July 1927): Printed by the "Bedfordshire Standard" Newspaper Co. (1913), Ltd, Bedford. Nos 16 (Oct. 1928) and 17 (Dec. 1928): Printed by the County Press (Bedford) Limited. Supplement: 30 March 1926.
£750.00

Fourteen items, all 8vo. Seven numbers (4-9 and 16) are 16pp; number 17 is 26pp; other numbers range from 8 to 12pp, except for the 'B.M.S. Gazette Supplement' (30 March 1926) which has 4pp. The first five numbers on cheap newspaper stock; from the sixth number onwards the paper quality improves. Number 17 ('Special Christmas Number') has lost its back cover. The other thirteen numbers are complete. A frail survival, in fair overall condition, on aged and worn paper. Numbers 4-11 with 'Eagle' masthead, otherwise no settled layout.

[Herbert van Thal and J. C. Trewin discuss the possibility of a book on the murderer Eugene Aram.] Typed Letter Signed from van Thal, with copy of Typed Letter from Trewin, on theatrical matters, with two-age treatment of Trewin's proposed book.

Author: 
J. C. Trewin [John Courtenay Trewin] (1908-1990), author and journalist; Herbert van Thal [Bertie Maurice van Thal] (1904-1983), author, publisher, agent and anthologist; Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London
Publication details: 
Both letters from London, March 1978. Van Thal's letter on letterhead of the publishers Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
£56.00

ONE: Typed Letter Signed from 'Bertie' (i.e. Herbert van Thal) to 'John' (i.e. J. C. Trewin). 15 March 1978. On letterhead of the London publishers Weidenfeld & Nicolson. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The letter reads: 'My dear John, Alas, they do not think that they would be able to sell this Eugene Aram idea here, without the backing of a television programme or a film to back it up. But Orbis recently asked me if I had any ideas, and I have sent it on to them. Will let you know what they have to say.

[Jack Jones, Welsh playwright: a Mid-Rhondda production of his Mid-Rhondda Depression-era play.] Typescript of 'Rhondda Roundabout', for a production by Garrick Dramatic Society of Mid-Rhondda, belonging to Jack Heycock, who played the male lead.

Author: 
Jack Jones (1884-1970), Welsh novelist, playwright and trade union officer [Jack Heywood, Garrick Dramatic Society, Mid-Rhondda]
Publication details: 
'Garrick Dramatic Society, Mid-Rhondda'. Circa 1939.
£320.00

A satisfying association: a copy of the typescript of a play set in 'Mid-Rhondda', for a production by an amateur dramatic company from Mid-Rhondda. [1] + 80pp, 4to. Duplicated typescript. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Each page is on the recto of a separate leaf. Stapled into a dark-blue card binding, with cloth spine, the front cover of which carries: '”RHONDDA ROUNDABOUT” | A Play in 3 Acts by | JACK JONES | GARRICK DRAMATIC SOCIETY | Mid – Rhondda'. Preceding the text of the play is a page carrying a list of characters and their ages, and a 'Scene-Sequence'.

[ 'Arthur Sketchley' (i.e. George Rose), 'Mrs Brown' and the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. ] Autograph Note Signed ('A. Sketchley') to 'Jno. Kinloch Esq', requesting 'A Box for this evening'.

Author: 
'Arthur Sketchley', pseudonym of George Rose (1817-1882), dramatist, creator of the once-celebrated 'Mrs Brown' [ The Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, London ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, London. 5 November 1864.
£30.00

Having left the Church of England for Roman Catholicism, Rose had had a number of well-received plays produced on the London stage before the huge success of his creation 'Mrs Brown'. 'Mrs Brown at Home and Abroad' was performed at the Egyptian Hall in 1864, and the 'Ladies' Cabinet of Fashion, Music & Romance' refers to 'Mr. Arthur Sketchley's snug little auditorium at the Egyptian Hall' for a performance of 'Mrs Brown at the Play'.

[ Henry Gally Knight, architectural writer and antiquary. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('H Gally Knight')

Author: 
Henry Gally Knight (1786-1846), architectural writer and antiquary [ The Dramatic Authors' Society, London ]
Publication details: 
Lower Grosvenor Street [ London ]. 11 July 1842.
£56.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with small glue and paper stain affecting one word of text. He asks the unnamed male recipient to thank 'the Dramatic Authors' Society, for the honor they have done me in noticing my humble efforts in the cuase of the Drama'. It will give Knight pleasure, 'at all times [...] to assist in promoting the objects for which they are ciated'.

Typescript, marked 'Producer's Copy', of the play 'Ghost for Sale', with manuscript addition to ending.

Author: 
Ronald Jeans (1887-1973), British playwright over five decades
Publication details: 
In manuscript on front cover: 'Return to 40c Palace St: London S.W.1'. Undatd. From Pinker's Play Bureau, Talbot House, Arundel Street, Strand, London, WC2.
£220.00

147pp., 8vo. In fair condition, on aged paper, with rusty binding, in worn covers. In manuscript on the cover are the return address and 'Producer's Copy'. In the same hand is an addition to the ending: 'Judy | Then there is a ghost' | Geoffrey | Not a word to your father'. 'Who's Who in the Theatre' records a production of the play in 1938, but there is no reference to it on either OCLC WorldCat, or on COPAC.

[ Mark H. Lubbock, composer. ] Typed Letter Signed ('Mark Lubbock') urging the actress Mary Ellis to take the lead role in his musical 'Hearts Beloved'. With copy of a typescript of his play.

Author: 
Mark H. Lubbock (1898-1986), British composer [ Mary Ellis (1897-2003), American actress who settled in Britain ]
Publication details: 
Letter on letterhead of the British Broadcasting Corporation, Broadcasting House, London W1. 19 May 1943. Typescript without place or date.
£320.00

ONE: TLS. 1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged paper. The letter begins: 'Dear Mary, | I am writing a musical play called "Hearts Beloved". The central character is MARIA FITZHERBERT and it is the story of her love affair with GEORGE IV, (Prinny). I am very anxious for you to consider playing MARIA FITZHERBERT. The part would suit you very well and I think the present time is just the moment to produce a historical play on an English stage.' He has seen 'Tom Arnold's representative', who would be interested if she agreed. TWO: Typescript. 49pp., folio. No title page.

[ Michael Martin Harvey, actor. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Michael M. H.') to theatre historian W. Macqueen-Pope ('Dearest Popie'), accompanying a typescript of his unpublished play 'Trust Chapeau'.

Author: 
Michael Martin Harvey (1897-1975), British actor, son of Sir John Martin-Harvey (1863-1944) [ W. Macqueen-Pope [ Walter James Macqueen-Pope ] (1888-1960), theatre manager and historian ]
Publication details: 
Both letter and typescript from Rowstock Cottage, Rowstock, Didcot, Berkshire. Both undated.
£280.00

ONE: Letter. 1p., 8vo. In fair condition, on aged paper. Smudged signature. He is sending the play, which he thinks has 'originality and charm and would be very funny. Who could play "Chapeau"? - I could, but I expect I'm too old!!!!' TWO: Typescript of play. 91pp., 4to. With autograph emendations. In good condition, on aged paper, in worn card covers.

[ Philip Leaver, film actor and playwright. ] Typescript of his unpublished 'The Dark Shore | A Play in Three Acts'.

Author: 
Philip Leaver [ Samuel Philip Leaver ] (1904-1981), English film actor and playwright
Publication details: 
7 Primrose Hill Studios, London NW1. Undated.
£120.00

129pp., 4to. In fair condition, lightly-aged, in worn wraps with label on cover. Leaver's first name misspelled 'PHILLIP' on title-page. Unpublished.

[ Typescript of play. ] '"Columbine in Camberwell". A Play in One Act.'

Author: 
Ivan Butler (1909-1998), playwright, actor and cinema historian
Publication details: 
The author's address given on cover as 4 Raglan Gardens, Oxhey, Watford, Hertfordshire. Undated.
£80.00

[2] + 31pp., 4to. In pink card covers. In fair condition, on aged paper, in worn and stained covers. The play was published in London by H. F. W. Deane & Sons in 1953.

[ Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse. ] Typescript of play 'Life with Father', with accompanying note to theatre historian W. Macqueen Pope from the agents Myron Selznick (London) Ltd.

Author: 
Howard Lindsay (1889-1968) and Russel Crouse (1893-1966)
Publication details: 
Typescript without place or date. Note from Myron Selznick (London) Ltd dated 18 November 1943.
£200.00

159pp., 4to. Typed in red and black. In good condition, on aged paper, in worn green card covers. TWO: Typed Note, signed by Enid Reynolds, 'Secretary to Mr. David Henley', sending the play to Macqueen-Pope. In good condition on aged paper. 1p., landscape 12mo. Lindsay and Crouse's 1939 adaptation of Clarence Day's book was the longest running non-musical Broadway play in history, spawning a film and television series.

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