[22 Paradise Rd.; forwardHale, Emilyholidays with the Havenses;l7 to c/o Dr and Mrs Havens, Wilson College, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania]
I left the office yesterday without having had the Havens’s address looked up, and in case you alter your plans (I hope you will not have to) perhaps it is better to send this letter to Northampton as usual. But if I learn that you are to be in Boston after all I shall be very disappointed, and indeed rather apprehensive; as I particularly want you to have a restful holiday. I had hoped that I might get a letter by the Queen Mary this morning before I go out, so as to be able to answer it by the same boat.
IBoutwood Lectures (afterwards The Idea of a Christian Society);a7 have been, of course, extremely busy during this last week; though much relieved to get the Cambridge lectures over. WeFamily Reunion, TheMarch 1939 Westminster Theatre production;g3last-minute flutters;a5 have an extremely active press agent, who has been making me interview various newspaper representatives – not the dramatic critics, but the columnists who give advance notes on productions. ThereAdrian, Max;a1 was also a flutter, such as I suppose always happen[s], when it was found that the ‘Doctor’s Dilemma’ production which is ending its Westminster run and going elsewhere, was going to take with it the man who played my chauffeur. HoweverHarris, Robertreplaces Max Adrian;a1, he has been replaced by Robert Harris,1 who is a good actor and better known than the other (Max Adrian).2 TheBrowne, Elliott Martin1939 production of The Family Reunion;c1steps into company breach;b8 worst misfortune is that the man who played the Doctor was very poor, and had to be chucked out; and failing anyone else, Martin is playing that himself. He will of course speak his lines well, but otherwise I shouldn’t call him a first rate actor, and of course he is physically unsuited to the part. ButSecond World Warand The Family Reunion;a5 on the whole I am very well pleased with the production; the first night is sold out, and there are good bookings for the following nights; andEuropethrough the 1930s;a2 unless Europe bursts into flame over the weekend the prospects are good. I am indeed rather worried about that – andMunich AgreementTSE's reservations as to;a4 I cannot help feeling that my apprehensions over the Munich Agreement are justifying themselves – but we shall probably know one way or the other – whether we are to have peace for another six months or not – by the time you get this letter. At any rate, if this unpleasantness subsides, there will probably be a lull over the summer, which is one of my most important personal considerations! Andtravels, trips and plansEH's 1939 England visit;d5threatened by war;a2 if things should simply remain so unsettled that it might not be prudent for people to come to England this summer – it would be better for me to come over for a visit than for you to come here. I don’t want to be alarmist, and I think the chief danger is of trouble on an increasing scale in Central Europe such that we should eventually become involved. I can’t write more now, and you must please imagine how I should act and speak now if I was in your company.
1.RobertHarris, Robert Harris (1900–95), British actor.
2.MaxAdrian, Max Adrian (1903–73), Irish stage, film and TV actor; founding member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. He became better known than Harris.
2.MaxAdrian, Max Adrian (1903–73), Irish stage, film and TV actor; founding member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. He became better known than Harris.
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.
1.RobertHarris, Robert Harris (1900–95), British actor.