Details

Related name

• Olivier, Laurence, 1907-1989 [Browse]
• Elliott, Denholm [Browse]
• Relph, George, 1888-1960 [Browse]
• Taylor, Valerie, 1902-1988 [Browse]
• Patton, Micheline [Browse]
• Kempson, Rachel [Browse]
• De Banzie, Brenda [Browse]
• St. James Theatre (London, England) [Browse]

Library of Congress genre(s)

• Drama [Browse]

Rare books genre

• Promptbooks [Browse]

Getty AAT genre

• Scripts [Browse]

Contains

Fry, Christopher, 1907-2005. Venus observed. [Browse]

Summary note

Consists of 12 typescript and bound copies of the play, most with mss. notes, stage directions, and cast members. Each script contains about 113 leaves of text. Playscripts are numbered 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 24; others are unnumbered.

Notes

• Cover title.
• Printing information from sheet pasted down on front free endpaper of each script.
• "Duplicated by: Catherine Billinghurst ..."--p. 2 at end. Duplicated by stencil duplication.

Time and place of event

First produced in London, England at the St. James Theatre, January 18, 1950; produced on Broadway at the Century Theatre, February 13, 1952.

Participant(s)/​Performer(s)

Cast list: The Duke of Altair - Laurence Olivier. Edgar, his son - Denholm Elliott. Herbert Reedbeck, his agent - George Relph. Dominic, Reedbeck's son - Robert. Rosabel Fleming - Micheline Patton and/or Valerie Taylor. Jessie Dill - Brenda Debanzie. Captain Fox Reddleman, the Duke's butler - Ted Johnson. Bates, the Duke's footman - Thomas Heathcote. Hilda Taylor-Snell - Rachel Kempson. Perpetua, Reedbeck's daughter - Heather Stannard.

Provenance

• Box 1: Thx copy 1: no notes. Thx copy 2: "Olivier" in mss. on cover; staging notes throughout. Staging sketches on front free endpapers. Thx copy 3: "E. Kentish" in mss on cover. Staging directions and text emendations throughout. Thx copy 4: "Kenneth Edwards" in mss. on front free endpaper. The Duke's dialogue prompts underlined in red; Reedbeck's in blue. Stage directions and text emendations throughout. Dates and "Wyndham" or "St. James" on last endpaper. Thx copy 5: "Denholm Elliott" in mss on cover. Promptbook for the character of Edgar, the duke's son. Dates and "Personal props" list inside front cover; "Breathing exercises" on last pages. Thx copy 6: "George Relph ..." in mss. on front free endpaper. Promptbook for the character of Herbert Reedbeck. Staging notes throughout. Costume notes on rear endpaper.
• Box 2: Thx copy 7: "Micheline Patton ..." in mss. on front free endpaper. Promptbook for Rosabel Fleming. Song lyrics on rear endpaper. Thx copy 8: "10 ... Ted Johnson" in mss. on cover. Mss. cast list. Promptbook for the character of Captain Fox Reddleman. Thx copy 9: "24 ... Jessie Dill." Promptbook for the character of Jessie Dill; performer unknown. Dialogue underlined in red. Thx copy 10: "Bates ... Thomas Heathcote ... 19" in mss. on cover. Minor stage directions in mss. Thx copy 11: "14" in mss. on cover. "Rachel Kempson" in mss. on front free endpaper. Promptbook for the character of Hilda Taylor-Snell. Thx copy 12: "12" in mss on cover. "Heather" in mss on front free endpaper, with stage sketch. Promptbook for the character of Perpetua. Mss. notes throughout; sketch of costume and hairstyles on rear endpapers.

Place name(s)

England London.

OCLC

81868129

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