Showing 75792 results

Truth, Carteret Street, Westminster SW1 - Thanks him for writing, responds with apologies and explanations for errors in his article about 'The Salt Land' and for differences of opinion. Is most shamed by the fact that he mistook some prose as quoted from the Bible; and discusses his assumption that the play was pro-Zionist; the play was better than anything else he has seen on ITV; John Thompson tells him he knows Peter, hopes they can meet.

Associated TeleVision Corporation Limited, ATV House, 17 Great Cumberland Place, London W1A 1AG - Thanks Peter for sharing his views, hopes to work with him sometime.

Two copies of a fax to Peter Shaffer c/o Patricia McNaughton, ML2000 Ltd. Letterhead: NT, National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 QPX - Wants to reopen the conversation begun last year at Stephen Sondheim's house about a revival of 'The Royal Hunt of the Sun'; knows he had concerns about Trevor [Nunn]'s involvement in the play, and Trevor is happy for Nicholas to approach Peter; it is an ideal time to revisit the play; Edward Hall wants to direct it, is an absolutely terrific director; asks to meet; the Education Department tell him the no play is lobbied for more often by their regulars.

Thanks him for his letter, didn't think he felt strongly on the subject, knows her own mind, and that she is taking the right step, is completely contented in [her fiancé Gerry's company?], they share the same religion and background; will not see Peter when she returns to Westgate.

[On a card with a label stuck on to the verso: The Royal Hunt of the Sun, National Theatre, Wednesday 12th April 2006 printed at right, Dear Peter at top and at bottom Trevor Nunn printed at left] - A longer letter will follow; it has been a thrilling and totally satisfying experience to work on the play with Peter.

San Cristobal Tower, Santiago - Thanks him for his hospitality, thinks Peter shared his enjoyment of the planetarium, the Met, 'Proof', and ViceVersa; describes the Indianapolis leg of the tour: the plane journey, Ray [Leppard]'s mellow mood, comfortable house, and good cooking, the dogs shared with Jack [Bloom], Ray's poor driving and lack of navigation skills on display while searching for a gallery with desolate industrial views, visiting the zoo and pitying the animals; attending two concerts, which he reviews, noting the precision that Ray obtained from his orchestra; describes more air travel [to Santiago?] and then the Atacama Desert; hopes Peter's hip problems are clearing up.

Is thinking of writing a work somewhere between a musical and an opera, modifying jazz to highlight its rhythmic form; his only background in theatre is revues, and would like to discuss his ideas with Peter, invites him for a meal, or some other meeting.

[Telegram sent to Peter Shaffer, Festival Theatre, Chichester] - Congratulates Peter on the wonderful press [for 'The Royal Hunt of the Sun'] hopes to see the play before leaving for Hollywood.

from the Master, Professor Roger Ainsworth MA, D.Phil., St. Catherine's College, Oxford, OX1 3UJ - In the letter of 27 March he offers Peter, on behalf of the Governing Body, the honorary position of Emeritus Fellow. In the letter of 10 July he invites him to the Stated General Meeting at which he will be admitted to the Fellowship, and to the College Feast that evening.

In answer to Peter's question, doesn't know Heather Brown's college, suggests he ask Leo [de Rothschild] about her and other women; Edward [Behr?] was vexed at PS's failure to preface "Carmilla"; suggests plans for a visit to the Rhone Valley; hopes Peter can placate the ulcer; is going on a family holiday and to a family wedding.

Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Glyndebourne, Lewes, Sussex - Invites Peter to write a dramatist's view of Mozart for the Glyndebourne Programme Book for 1978 in a letter of 17 Oct., discusses it further in a letter of 15 Nov., and accepts Shaffer's regrets in a letter of 9 Dec.

Was just going to invite Peter to his play when he learned from Brian Bedford that Peter had gone to France; will take him up on his offer to get together in New York.

[At top: Jack G. O'Brien] - Sends his congratulations for a beautiful play; remembers saying the night Peter and Victor [Spinelli?] and Ellis [Rabb?] came to his apartment that Peter was 'the only playwright working today who uses the stage for something more than a tiny incubator for one's private breath'.

Informs Peter that they will register at the Institute in Florence from August 27th to September 10; was bored by the 'Footlights' broadcast; Keith [?] has jaundice; sends his regards.

[At top: Leonard Bernstein] - Congratulates Peter on the play ['The Royal Hunt of the Sun'], and suggests they meet 'quietly and long' when time allows.

Describes his vacation: going to the [Paul] Nash Exhibition; and to the 'over-adapted' Pirandello 'Enrico IV', and doesn't doubt that Peter has also seen it or 'indeed, you acted in it, adapted it, or whatever'; tells Peter not to ask what he has read, but rather what he has learned: to question the TS Eliot-Basil Willey doctrine of 'the post-Renaissance division of sensibility'; encloses a photograph [not present]; asks for news.

Two copies, both with corrections and signed by Peter. 173 Riverside Drive, Apartment 16C, New York, NY 10024 - Thanks him for his letter, sent 'at last' [about the reference to 'Black Comedy' in his book], giving the details of the genesis of his idea for the staging, describing the limited extent of Kenneth Tynan's involvement; finds it more than unfortunate that Olivier should have defended Tynan to his Board by implying he was responsible for the idea of 'Black Comedy' and its implication that PS has been taking credit for work he never did; rejects his letter of apology, noting Olivier's waffling 'my mistake, if mistake it was'; is further hurt by the fact that Olivier fails to mention two of the 'smash-hits' he provided the company entirely, and attribute the third to someone else.

The Academy [of St Martin in the Fields] is putting on a concert to celebrate Neville's 90th birthday and she invites Peter to write about working with Neville and Saul [Zaentz] and Milos [Forman] to put together the [music] for 'Amadeus'.

Congratulates Peter on the success of the 'Royal Hunt of the Sun' and for the opportunity of acting Pizarro.

Christopher Mann Ltd, 140 Park Lane, London W1Y 4BU - Recounts [David] Merrick's words as instructed by him on the street, that if Peter wants Merrick to produce his play ['The Battle of Shrivings'] he will 'under no circumstances' deal with Blackburn, as he is 'unethical and immoral'.

Glyndebourne was a haven of rest and good work, enjoyed leading the single life; Ray [Leppard] hoped that Shaffer 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'.

Perls Galleries, 1016 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10021 - Admires 'The Battle of Shrivings'; thinks the London critics didn't like it because it is much to strong for the 'namby-pamby tastes of London theatre goers'; hopes Peter gets to do the movie on Corfu; went with his brother [Frank] from Beverly Hills, Stephen Hahn, and Heinz Berggruen, and were all of one mind.

Has cleaned the apartment as Paul [Giovanni] is having some English people up; misses Peter; 'Evita' opened to bad notices; [John] Hopkins' 'Losing Time' was panned; Algernon and Cecily and the fish are fine; Paul [Giovanni] is having troubles with a gecko waking him up at night; isn't all that happy to be in New York, nothing to do, people are so odd, Alan & Paula [Schwartz?] never call; is going to the new Stoppard play ['Dogg's Hamlet, Cahoot's Macbeth'?] with Enid Harlow; Peter Wood is in town but doesn't call; another friend is so taken with 'the Latin stud' that being with them is tedious; June [Anderson?] is singing 'Fledermouse' [sic]; the NYC Opera is on strike; Paul is going over sooner than Robert; wishes Peter were there.

Jeffrey Green Russell Solicitors, Apollo House, 56 New Bond Street, London W15 1RG. He and Jolanta were thrilled to hear the news, Peter has given great pride to the family, thinks Rita [Reka] and Jack would have been thrilled.

Possibly incomplete letter, lacking a closing and signature. Didn't reverse the charges on a phone call to Peter in July and is shocked by how much the calls cost, and how much Peter must have spent on them in the last four months, says they must stop; asks for Peter to bring two things from England: guitar strings by Savarez and the piano score of Weill's 'Seven Deadly Sins' with text by Brecht, which he'd like to put on for the Open Theatre that season; closes with a poem.

Apology for not congratulating him earlier.

Enjoyed hearing Peter sketch out 'Lettuce [sic] and Lovage' and is happy he has found it in him to put women at the center, can't recall a character since 'Black Comedy' that has given as much pleasure as the 'Maggie Smith creature'; encloses an autobiographical piece from ['Contemporary Authors']; suggests he go see two shows: George Rickey at the Zabriskie Gallery and Betty Woodman at the Max Protech Gallery; discusses plans to go to his house in the Dordogne for a week.

Hotel Caravelle, Saigon - Hopes the play is a success, is sure his mother will have a back-handed compliment; is going into battle tomorrow with the American Airborne Brigade full of green young recruits; has written Billy McCarty about this too, recommends Peter get to know him as his good deed.

The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre - Has heard that Peter has written a large cast play and offers to read the script as a possibility for the Stratford company in London.

Timbur Nash, 8 Brookside Park, Westport, CT 06880 - Has just found a letter from Peter with the gift of Robert [Leonard]'s collectable postcard; has fond memories of Robert, his collections and wide-ranging knowledge and his sense of fun; remembers working for them, and describes how he has seen Peter's plays multiple times; would like to meet; he would bring Mark.