Showing 20 results

John Gielgud, 16 Cowley Street, London S.W.1. - Discusses casting for 'Five Finger Exercise': [Harry?] Lockart, James Hayter and John Perry's reaction; Brenda de Banzie has the play and is considering it; asks him to come see him after he is launched at the Globe with 'The Potting Shed'.

Sending good wishes for a triumphant evening.

Postcard from Óbidos, Portugal, quoting Elvira's opening line in 'Pizarro' to a gentleman who wakes her by kissing her hand.

H. M. Tennent Ltd., Globe Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W.1. - Asks for a book on back, and describes his election day, was driven by Jenner to the polls by Jenner, tells Jenner he would get no more jellies or blankets for the winter if he doesn't register his vote; then went and drank Mr Macmillan's health.

H. M. Tennent Ltd., Globe Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W.1. - Thanks him for his telegram, 'pity me dear man but do not speak to me!'

15 Lord North Street, Westminster, S.W.1. - Won't write again, fears he is no longer observant; involved himself in 'Dazzling Prospect' for the wrong motives which tends to result in less good work; is longing to read the new script.

H. M. Tennent Ltd., Globe Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W.1. -

Flat 114, 24 John Islip Street, London, S.W.1. - Remembers his visit to New England with Sir John [Gielgud] soon after 'that little foolishness by the Cancer Hospital', crossing the border from Canada with his heart beating so loudly he thought the border guard would hear it; lunched with Pinkie [Johnstone?] who told him PS had been burgled; shares theatre news: John Osborne's 'Hotel in Amsterdam' has no progression and a great deal of talk but features a stunning performance by Paul [Scofield], didn't like the [Tom] Stoppard play at all ['The Real Inspector Hound'], Binkie [Beaumont] insisted on running 'I Can't Hear You'[?] which closes Saturday; they are still running the Ustinov play and 'The Importance [of being Earnest]'; is about to do a revival of 'Ring Round the Moon', but can't find a new play; are supposed to do Joe Orton's new play 'What the Butler Saw' but parties need to agree on cast and director; on 17 April he hit Franco, ending a humiliating four years; has decided to found SPCSOQ, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Silly Old Queens. In a postscript he notes it is 10 years since '5 Finger Exercise'.

Flat 114, 24 John Islip Street, London, S.W.1. - Had lunch with Jim [?] who says Peter is having trouble with his play, offers to read it; thought Jim was pretty fair, gets dark forebodings from Pinkie [Johnstone] but she tends to exaggerate; thinks Jim should go after a much older woman who has money, property in the country next to Fred Webb, not to mention 2 or 3 mansions in Islington.

Describes a production of "Amadeus" in Kettering; hopes to see him in April, reminisces about Tony Shaffer and others from the old days.

Flat 114, 24 John Islip Street, London, S.W.1. - Have seen a lot of Brian [?], who visited from Woburn, was very scatty; the [Joe] Orton play ['What the Butler Saw'] died a death the first night, with a restive audience, awful press except for Frank Marcus' review; 'Your Own Thing' flopped badly, Simon Gray's 'Dutch Uncle' is doing poorly, and [Georges] Feydeau's 'Cat Among the Pigeons', which 'Mr B' [Beaumont?] insisted on putting on has already cost £25,000 and they might never get it back, good only for Victor Spinetti; took 'wee Gordon'[?] to see '[The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie]', which he thought too long but loved Celia Johnston; is buying Gordon a house, doesn't want the Government to get anything when he dies; Binkie [Beaumont] is fiddling while the Globe burns; his friend Roger Stock questioned Gordon about his real estate agent and brought up the subject himself; quotes a nice letter from the Undertaker/publican/grocer Beat MacCarthy after he paid for his sister's tombstone.

The Old Bakery, Malting Lane, Gt. Chishill, Royston, Herts. - Was happy to get his letter from Barbados; was there in 1930 acting as Jack in 'Charley's Aunt' and Stanhope in 'Journey's End', remembers he went off script and ran his hand through Raleigh's hair on the way out of the dugout; his house burnt April 6, and he has been staying with a doctor, Sandy McKenzie while he rebuilds; has seen Victor [Spinetti], whose career has slowed down, and who has had financial worries, and John doesn't know what happened with the film he wrote with Tony [Shaffer]; was going to see the Duchess [?] in Los Angeles, but couldn't fit the dates; thinks him mad for coming to the UK at this point, with heaps of refuse, raging inflation, snow, and a Northeast wind from Siberia.

Knots Fosse, Gt. Chishill, Royston, Herts. - Thanks him for his letter; it is hard to find a companion to go away with; was snowed in a week ago, and was dug out by lads from the village, which he would have understood if he were famous and not 'a crumbling, oofy old Theatrical Manager'; is happy all goes well; his dear friend Molly Keane has written 'Good Behaviour' which nearly won the Booker Prize, and has been bought by the BBC for a TV serial.

Glyndebourne was a haven of rest and good work, enjoyed leading the single life; Ray [Leppard] hoped that PS and Paul [Giovanni] would be at the first night but thinks they must still be in N.Y.; Ray's opera ['La Calisto' by Cavalli] a huge success, but he notes the critics didn't note why it worked and was good, 'but at least they have not been bestial'; thinks of 'Shrivings' with sadness and admiration and declares it all ended with angry notes about management with John Perry; nothing is clear with Dmitri [?] about the film version of 'White Liars', will work with him to create a film version of 'Brave New World'.

Hotel Esplanade Pty. Ltd., Perth, W.A. - Returns ['The Royal Hunt of the Sun'] and thanks him for letting him read it again, comments on it, especially the difficulties in acting and directing it, thinks if Dexter does it as brilliantly as 'Chips' and he gets two first actors, it will be a big success; is in Australia, finds the stage squeaks and the dance studio next door 'lends jazz combo accompaniments to my silvery efforts'; saw Jim Mossman before he left. A note at the top of the letter signed by John [Perry]: 'V. Rum here will write soon'.

Congratulations on the 200th performance.

Hôtel del Golfo, Lido di Procchio, Isola d'Elba - Thanks him for his postcard, is glad Venice has given him such pleasure; is enjoying Elba, thinks the youth of Marciano Marino and Porto Ferraio are on the cattivo side, will go to Tarquini to the Etruscan tombs, then make their way back to Ostend; looked at the mosaics at Ravenna on the way there; discusses the play ['Royal Hunt of the Sun'?], thinks it a good idea that Peter Glenville has acquired it, thinks he will help get it into shape; it is too long, and the action moves too slowly, and didn't understand the direction the play was taking either; it is not the type of play he is good at reading but very often enjoys on stage; a few weeks after his return he will go to Canada and the U.S. for three weeks.

Congratulates him on the anniversary of 'Five Finger Exercise'.

H. M. Tennent Ltd., Globe Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W.1. - Thanks him for the book and for his note, is delighted everything has come out so well.