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'.
SHAF/A/1/P/15
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[25 July 1968]
Part of Papers of Sir Peter Shaffer
SHAF/A/1/P/16
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[10 Jan. 1969]
Part of Papers of Sir Peter Shaffer
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.