[‘The Last of Mrs Cheney’, Frederick Lonsdale play made into three Hollywood films.] Material relating to first stage production, at St James’s Theatre, London, including playscript, manuscript cast rolls, furniture and upholstery lists and invoice.

Lonsdale’s entry in the Oxford DNB has the following to say: ‘In 1925 The Last of Mrs Cheyney was produced at the St James's Theatre, with the leading roles played by Gladys Cooper, Ellis Jeffreys, Ronald Squire, and Sir Gerald Du Maurier. This, Lonsdale's most famous play, ran for 514 performances [from 22 September 1925] in London, and enjoyed comparable popularity in New York, Berlin, and Paris. The Last of Mrs Cheyney complicates Lonsdale's more usual exposure of upper-class insincerities with a thriller theme—Mrs Cheyney, masquerading as one of the smart set, conceals her shop-girl past in order to conspire with an aristocrat disguised as her butler to defraud her wealthy friends. In 1930 the play was adapted into a popular novel by Denys Herriot, and it was three times made into a film by MGM, in 1929 [Norma Shearer and Basil Rathbone], in 1937 [Joan Crawford] and, as The Law and the Lady, in 1951 [Greer Garson].’ There was also a German film adaptation. The present collection of seven items is in good condition, lightly aged and worn. Providing an interesting insight in the day-to-day running of a leading London theatre in the interwar years. ONE: Typescript of Act II Scene 2. 14pp, 4to, with a few minor manuscript emendations (by Lonsdale?). TWO: Manuscript roll call for sixteen weeks of performances, each on a single page of foolscap 8vo, each page listing the attendance of around sixty individuals connected with the performance, from leading ‘Principles’ Du Maurier and Cooper, to ‘Stage’, along with members of the ‘Band’, ‘Electric’, ‘Props’ and ‘Dressers’. The following three items are typed on letterheads of Ernest Williams Ltd of Mayfair (‘Decoration . Upholstery . Antiques’) and addressed to T. B. Vaughan at the theatre and 37 Bury Street. THREE: List of 17 items, with prices, of ‘Upholstery Goods required for the Production of “The Last of Mrs Cheveley” [sic] at St James’ Theatre’. Dated 12 September 1925. 3pp, foolscap 8vo. Total estimate of cost, £174 5s 0d (after credit of £60: ‘The Rugs to be credited if returned in good condition.’) FOUR: Itemized list, with prices, ‘To Supplying Upholstery Goods for The Production fo “The Last of Mrs Cheyney”.’ Dated 9 October 1925. 3pp, 4to. Additional items (numbered 18 to 49) to those in Item Three, bringing the total up to £495 12s 2d. Including ‘two sets of green velvet curtains, and two pelmets mounted on buckram and trimmed with fringe and braid’ and ‘bedspread of silver brocade trimmed with silver lace and silver bullion fringe also bed valance trimmed with silver braid. for Act III.’ FIVE: Undated ‘List of furniture for St James’ Theatre’. Undated, but it with manuscript note: ‘Checked and found correct / A. Withers / Herbert Crown / 2/xi/’25.’ 3pp, 4to. Two items added in manuscript by Crown (‘H. C. 16/1/26.’). SIX: Typed ‘Furniture Plot’ for the play. 7pp, 4to. With one manuscript addition. Goes act by act, listing items from six sources (one in manuscript): Gilbert Miller; Ernest Williams Ltd; Messrs Jones, Silversmith, Long Acre; ‘lent by Miss Gladys Cooper’; ‘lent by Mr. Dennis Eadie’; ‘Hired from Arthur and Purkis’. SEVEN: 2pp, foolscap 8vo. On one page is a typed list of ‘Stock in Wardrobe of “The Last of Mrs Cheyney”’, listing ten individuals (including ‘Miss Doris Cooper’) and the material they hold. On the other page is ‘Stock sold from “The Last of Mrs Cheyney” wardrobe.’ Naming nine individuals, with their items of clothing and the prices paid (totalling £22 2s 0d). Typed at foot of second page: ‘Miss Cooper has shoes, stockings, bag, crystal necklace. / E. Mott.’