[John Van Druten, dramatist.] Typed Letter Signed ('John van Druten') to W. J. Macqueen-Pope, discussing his memories of Ivor Novello, and his new play 'I am a Camera', based on Christopher Isherwood, and Julie Harris.

2pp, 8vo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. A very good and informative letter. Written from the A. J. C. Ranch, which Van Druten had purchased with his former lover Carter Lodge (now his business manager) and the British actress Auriol Lee. Van Druten left his interest in the ranch to Lodge, together with the rights to his work, including the play discussed here, 'I am a Camera', an adapatation of Christopher Isherwood's stories. (For the relationship between Van Druten and Isherwood, see Peter Parker's biography of the latter.) This entitled Lodge to income from the film 'Cabaret'. Van Druten begins by describing how on his return from New York he found Macqueen-Pope's biography of Novello (1951) waiting for him. He has 'read in it for an hour and more already', and 'came across the passage about Dodie, and called her on the phone to read her the nice things you said about her. She was very pleased and grateful'. He asks if MP knows 'that Ivor wrote the music for the song “DIMITY GOWN” which Frank Lawton sang in my play “Somebody Knows”? It appears (or did) at the back of the Samuel French acting edition. The words are written in a slight parody or character vein, by me – but Ivor's music was most charming, I thought.' He has 'had a long session in the theatre', and his 'new play “I AM A CAMERA” (adapted from Christopher Isherwood's stories) opened at the end of November'. He is 'happy to say it is a nice success, and has made a real star of the first order of Miss Julie Harris'. He discusses Harris, 'a girl of about 25, who has been working steadily from bits onwards since she walked on as a wailing Greek woman in the Laurence Olivier OEDIPUS. Last year she played in MEMBER OF THE WEDDING – played a girl of 12, to Ethel Waters' exquisite colored nurse – and made a great success, in a lonely, neurotic, tragic and touching part. It was obvious – to me, at any rate – that her next role, if the right one, could land her into stardom.' He discusses her part ('a juicy one') in his Isherwood play, the reception of which 'reminded me of nothing as keenly as it has of Maggie Albanesi's reception over the BILL OF DIVORCEMENT'. He finds Harris 'as rarely talented a being as Maggie was'. Since the play he has gone 'straight over to do the road company of BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE with Rosalind Russell in the lead. That is now in Philadelphia, and doing finely, too. Dennis Price, the English movie actor, is playing opposite her, and doing a fine job, too.' On his return he has been able to 'relax a little now'.