[ Maurice Willson Disher, theatre critic and author. ] Unpublished typescript of his play 'Plain Clothes [initially titled 'Nature is so Coarse']. Harlequinade in Four Acts and Plain Clothes by All the Worst Authors [originally 'M. Willson Disher'].'

Author: 
M. Willson Disher [ Maurice Willson Disher ] (1893-1969), British theatre critic and author [ Leonard Sachs and Peter Ridgeway; Ridgeway's Late Joys; the Players Theatre, London ]
Publication details: 
'Please return to: | M. Willson Disher, | 24 Bradstock Road, Ewell, Surrey [originally 'Russell's Water, | Nr. Henley-on-Thames. | Oxon.' ]. Undated.
£500.00
SKU: 17376

102pp., 4to. Typed on rectos only, and bound with pink string in grey card wraps with white paper label. Internally in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, in worn wraps. Extensive manuscript emendations throughout, and with a manuscript passage (1p., 4to) on leaf loosely inserted, for adding to p.21. The title-page of the play is revised, with the typed title 'Nature is so Coarse' replaced by the manuscript 'Plain Clothes', and the author's name 'M. Willson Disher' replaced by 'All the Worst Authors'. Typed note on title-page: 'Merely as a suggestion the scenario of a Victorian harlequinade is added for possible use as a curtain-raiser.' The play itself is 88pp. long, and is followed by a ten-page 'Victorian Harlequinade', whose title-page states that it is 'as played without scenery or orchestra at Late Joys, which serves the fore-going play as Curtain-Raiser.' Manuscript note at foot of list of 'Persons of the Play. | (Dressed according to fashion of the celebrated Victorian Revival now in store for us)': 'Know all ye who find libels in these portraits of gentlemen engaged in the maintenance of law and order that all the worst authors aforesaid claim for every detail, every word, every pause, the full might and extreme lattitude of Stage Licence.' In pencil on same page: 'Memo: Leo Kersey' and 'both parts ? Naomi Jacob'. And on same page in ink: 'Music from author's extensive collection 1780-1880.' For more on Willson Disher see his obituary in The Times ('Historian of Entertainment'), 29 November 1969. There is no record of the publication of any of this material, under either off the titles. 'Late Joys', at which the 'Harlequinade' is said to have been performed, was an entertainment at the Players Theatre, London, run by Leonard Sachs and Peter Ridgeway.