Typed Letter Signed ('John van Druten'), giving advice to an actor named 'France'.

4to, 1 p, 21 lines. On creased and lightly-foxed paper, with a couple of closed tears (not affecting text, which is clear and entire). May refer to the 1928 revival of van Druten's play 'Young Woodley' (previously banned by the censor), or (which is more likely) to his 'After All' (1929). Van Druten writes that he 'came again to see my play last night after a very long interval, and was really quite surprised to find how good it was and how beautifully played.' He was 'particularly impressed by the last scene, which I had not seen, I think, since Miss Carme's first night [the actress Pamela Carme (b.1902)]'. He hopes he 'may be permitted a criticism': 'I do not care for your final collapse on the sofa, which I think is an anti-climax after the beautifully restrained playing which you have been giving all evening - one final touch too strong that brings the play at that last moment back into the realms of theatre and melodrama, when you have so long been keeping it on the plane of tragedy'. He would like France to follow 'Miss Lee's suggestion' and 'return to the sofa from the door, and merely sit there staring at the audience blankly, helplessly. The collapse seems to me to weaken it.'