[Sir Donald Wolfit, Shakespearian actor-manager.] Typed Letter Signed to W. J. Macqueen-Pope regarding the success of his Shakespeare tour; with carbon TL of MP’s reply, giving a synopsis of his planned play about Edmund Kean, with Wolfit to star.

From the Macqueen-Pope papers. See the two men’s entries in the Oxford DNB. Ronald Harwood’s play and film ‘The Dresser’ are based on his experiences working in that position for Wolfit. From the Macqueen-Pope archive. The two items lightly aged and in fair condition, the first with a little rust spotting to one corner from a paperclip. In Item Two MP describes in detail his plans for a play about the nineteenth-century actor Edmund Kean, with Wolfit clearly envisaged in the leading role. There is no record of the play having been produced, although a biography of Kean by MP was published in the year of the latter's death. ONE: ALS, signed ‘Donald Wolfit.’ 25 February 1943. 1p, 4to. Letterhead printed in red. After thanking MP for a letter, he writes: ‘Our tour continues to be a success to the astonishment of the local garrison theatre managers who seem to have expected riots at performances of Shakespeare, and are amazed at the reception.’ He asks to be sent ‘the Kean play to read during the tour’, adding that he will be ‘at Tidworth Garrison theatre all next week’. In a postscript he writes: ‘I am glad you liked my first study of “Lear”, of course [‘some’ added in autograph] modern actors are lazy!’ TWO: Unsigned carbon of TL from MP to Wolfit, 26 February 1943. 1p, 4to. He explains that ‘The Kean play isn’t written yet - but it is practically in scenario form. I happen to be an authority on that great man and we did some exciting bits about him in “The Stones of Drury Lane” over the air last year which were enormously successful, as was the whole series’ (on BBC radio). He gives a synopsis of his proposed play over the following twenty-eight lines, concluding: ‘The theme all through is genius which consumes itself - a burning fire which nothing but death can put out. A tremendously human story - with a tremendously human background of reality and romance. We do not glamorize him - the facts are good enough. Now and again there is a little distortion of background for love interest. When it is done and it wont be long, I’ll let you read it first.’