[c/o Miss Mary Eyre, West Rindge]
Crowhurst.
Dearest Emily
OurRock, Thecloses;d5 last performance was on Saturday night. OnUnderhill, Evelyn;b2 SundayHayward, John;b2 I had to go to tea at Mrs. Stuart Moore’s and to supper with John Hayward, to say nothing of entering and casting up the church accounts; soMorleys, theTSE's June 1934 fortnight with;c5 IPike's FarmTSE's June 1934 fortnight at;b1 came down here with Frank on Monday afternoon, and have spent a very happy and lazy week. I had to write twenty or so letters the next day, and have had several manuscripts to read, and have some notices of books to write; but otherwise have either slept, or sat in a deck chair in the garden in as little clothing as the custom of the country tolerates. Isummerand the drought of 1934;a6 wish that you might be in England now, before the country is wholly consumed by the drought as we are having. As yet, the countryside is still very green, and the hay being cut imparts a lovely smell to the air. The drought is already so serious that conscientious people like myself confine themselves to sponge-baths in an inch of water; and the buses and trains of London are placarded USE LESS WATER. This afternoon the air is heavy and close, but the thunderstorms that we should be having never fall. The Morleys have gone to Wiltshire for a few days, and I am left to the company of the children, Mrs. Eames’s nephew, and the dogs of both households, fordogselkhound;c1belonging to Mrs Eames;a1 Mrs. Eames has acquired a young elkhound this year.
On the whole I am very happy about the success of The Rock. It had very little advertisement, and was ignored by the Sunday papers; nevertheless, on some nights the house was quite full, and on others only some of the best stalls were empty. And the house holds about 1600. They sold 2000 copies of the text in the theatre. I have had many encomiums from private persons. What gives one especial pleasure is to believe that the actors have enjoyed one’s play. OnRock, Thetwo connected supper-parties;d5 Saturday the ten London University students in the cast gave a supper in the bar of the theatre (before the last performance) for me, BrowneBrowne, Elliott Martinproduction of The Rock;a2honoured by Rock cast-supper;b2 andShaw, Martin;a5 Martin Shaw (they included Alfred, Edwin, the Contractor and Mrs. Bert).
I hope that I may be asked to do something more – and to write a play which shall not be a ‘pageant’ as well – I feel that what I have learned in the course of writing and production entitles me to a little larger scope the next time. But I could ask nothing better than to work with the same people. I hope, by the time I see you, to have a fairly representative set of photographs that were taken.
I count the days till the 19th, and till the 21st. UntilAmericaCalifornia;d3TSE dreads its effect on EH;a8 you are actually away from California, I dread the possibility of a break-down which will prevent or delay your trip. AnyHale, Emilyas director ('producer');v9Comus;a4 and all the information you vouchsafe to give me about ‘Comus’, if New England finds you with enough strength and time to write, will be eagerly welcomed. I wonder if you are responsible for the costumes as well as for the production. And what about the incidental music. PenelopeNoyes, Penelope Barker;c7 is looking forward to seeing you, and hopes that you will not wear yourself out in New England rushing from one visit to another. I wonder if the Perkins’s have got to Chichester yet. I wish they could find a house in that vicinity.
I expect to stay here until the 28th, then to Rochester, back to London, andHowson, Revd VincentTSE's Stepney sojourn with;a4 four nights with the Rev. Vincent Howson in Stepney going the rounds of the markets before breakfast, before my family arrive.
The Morleys will take their holiday in Scotland during the first three weeks of September. So I hope you may be able to squeeze in a weekend here in August – if not, in October before you go south. I have not spoken to them about it yet, but I know they would be delighted – the only risk is of your having only one weekend to offer and they happening to have already asked someone else. AndEameses, the;a4Eames, Jack
It seems odd not to put on Air Mail & gives me a feeling of impatience!!
4.E. MartinBrowne, Elliott Martin Browne (1900–80), English director and producer, was to direct the first production of Murder in the Cathedral: see Biographical Register.
11.JohnHayward, John Davy Hayward (1905–65), editor and critic: see Biographical Register.
1.RevdHowson, Revd Vincent Vincent Howson (d. 1957), St James’ Vicarage, Ratcliff, London, was ‘Bert’ in The Rock. Founder and producer of the East End Amateurs, he had been a member of Sir Frank Benson’s Shakespearian Company. His final post was as rector of St Paul’s, Covent Garden.
12.PenelopeNoyes, Penelope Barker Barker Noyes (1891–1977), who was descended from settlers of the Plymouth Colony, lived in a historic colonial house (built in 1894 for her father James Atkins Noyes) at 1 Highland Street, Cambridge, MA. Unitarian. She was a close friend of EH.
1.MartinShaw, Martin Shaw (1875–1958), composer of stage works, choral pieces and recital ballads: see Biographical Register.
1.EvelynUnderhill, Evelyn Underhill (1875–1941), spiritual director and writer on mysticism and the spiritual life: see Biographical Register.