Congratulates PS on 'Lettice and Lovage', which he saw on Maggie Smith's last night.
The Stratford Shakespearean Festival Foundation of Canada, Post Office Box 520, Stratford, Ontario, Canada N5A 6V2 - He and Robin [Phillips] are planning a production of Chekhov's 'The Seagull' for the 1980 season with Maggie [Smith], Brian [Bedford], Hume [Cronyn] and Jessica [Tandy] that would transfer to the Vivian Beaumont at Lincoln Center; wonders if PS would consider creating a new version, given his familiarity with the actors.
Volume has 14 sheets of typescript rewrites for the American productions of both 'The Private Ear' and 'The Public Eye.' There is also a handbill for the Globe Theatre production of the two plays starring Kenneth Williams and Maggie Smith.
Explains that he had to meet Maggie [Smith] after the play the night before.
Concerns the script being sent her from Hallmark.
PS's 'neighbor' Maggie Smith was at the British film awards; congratulates him for 'Amadeus' being scheduled again at the National; wonders what he knows about James Levine stepping aside at the Met; the local paper has almost entirely stopped running reviews of music concerts; is offering a three-session course on 'Madama Butterfly'; encloses a past program of 'Amadeus' in Chicago [not present].
John Gielgud, 16 Cowley Street, London S.W.1. - Saw 'Black Comedy' at long last, thought Maggie Smith brilliant, Bob Stephens, whom he didn't like in the Lope de Vega play, is excellent, thinks the characters should have exchanged trousers; Larry [Olivier] has approached him about going to the National, and discusses the Pirandello Henry IV which he has been told he should act; would like [Luchino] Visconti to direct it, not [Franco] Zeffirelli ('for obvious Othello reasons on my part!'), wonders if PS could adapt it, and suggests ways of doing it so that English audiences will like it; wonders what PS thinks of the idea; has to go to New York to do a small part in a film in November but will be in London until then.
Her thanks for the role.