MUSICALS

1p, 4to. In fair condition, lightly creased. Folded once. Reads: ‘Dear Peter, / Many thanks for your letter. It’s always pleasant to read nice things that people say about one’s work. / All my best wishes to you. / Sincerely, / Burton Lane’. Two-line typed biography of Lane at head of reverse.

1p, 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged. Folded once. The printing of the letterhead, in red and black, extends along three edges, with decorations including an oriental-style architectural motif in front of a tree at bottom right. At the head of the page the letterhead reads 'Williamson presents The King and I as originally produced by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein 2nd.' The four directors of Williamson Music Limited are named at the foot, including Rodgers, Hammerstein and 'Louis Dreyfus (British formerly American)'. The note, addressed to 'Mr.

Jeffrey Richards, in his 'Imperialism and Music: Britain, 1876-1953' (2001), pp.272-274, discusses this piece at some length, beginning: 'There was a late entry in the imperial cycle, the now-forgotten The Song of The Drum, written by Fred Thompson and Guy Bolton, which opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, on 9 January 1931. It starred Derek Oldham as Captain Anthony Darrell, Bobby Howes as comic relief Chips Wilcox, Peter Haddon as silly-ass "Goofy" Topham and Marie Burke as glamorous spy Countess Olga von Haulstein.

v + 83pp. In grey printed wraps. Printed on rectos only and comb-bound. On aged and worn paper, with stamps of the Hire Library of Messrs Chappell & Co. Ltd, 50 New Bond Street. With pencil markings and annotations. Loosely inserted is an 'On Loan' receipt to 'Mr. T. Dickinson, 12A, York Mews, London, N.W.5.' The first English production of the play was at the Apollo Theatre, London, opening on 7 September 1961. It ran for 44 performances.