HARRISON REX: (1908-1990) English actor, famous for his portrayal of Professor Henry Higgins in ...

HARRISON REX: (1908-1990) English actor, famous for his portrayal of Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady (1964). Academy Award winner. An excellent, lengthy A.L.S., Rex, eight pages, 8vo, Toronto, 30th October [1953], to Binkie [Beaumont], on the printed bifolium stationery of the Royal York Hotel. Harrison states that he has received his correspondent´s wire and letter and firstly responds to the former, stating ´I´m glad you feel that way. I would, of course, have told you about the possibility of the Korda film earlier had I seen a script. I am now awaiting its arrival, which will not be for several weeks as Sydney Gilliat is penning it for me as I write. Nothing will be decided till it arrives, obviously´. Harrison continues his letter with a discussion regarding the casting of an aunt (Miss. Holroyd) in the play Bell, Book and Candle, ´Really - what a silly old bag Miss. Rutherford has turned out to be - "Useless and Selfish" - what kind of play does she think this is? Oh well, I suppose we´d better hang on to her in case - but my thoughts are these - (and surely there is no need to cast it till the spring). The play´s best with a timid Aunt. An Aunt who has recently started in a small way the art of witchery, and isn´t very good at it! Eager and absolutely loves it, but not really a driving personality. I could, I´m sure, adapt it to a driver such as Rutherford, and I´m not saying that the play mightn´t get additional bounces but, from a purist standpoint give me a timid mouse every time - in other words Miss. Aked or her equivalent. After all the play didn´t suffer in New York when we had an old lady of over seventy who was stone blind! I would very much like to see Miss. Aked and talk to her when I get back, surely sixty-six isn´t too old. Binkie dear, I´m afraid I don´t think Sybil, Miss Ffranco-Davis (sic). Miss Lohr or Zena even remotely right. The part is in no way written for "seedy grandeur" but for sweet, kind, timid, bumbling, mouse. Perhaps Miss. Seyler is nearer, but , alas, I haven´t seen her act for centuries. Miss. Patricia Collinge I´m afraid I have never even heard of, let alone seen. However I´m prepared, if you wish it, to see her in New York. Is she acting now?´ Harrison continues his letter writing ´So glad Johnnie V. D. is flashing! I trust tho´ he will not even give the tiniest spark while I am attempting to re-stage his play. He can be a very tiresome and irritating old thing. Let´s hope his English success hasn´t gone to his head! I think that´s all.....Don´t forget, above everything I want Wilfred Lawson for "Redlitch". How is he bearing up? We are a riot in Canada, selling out.....Have had Saddlers (sic) Wells against us, and have been with Margot and Freddie´. A letter of excellent theatrical content. A few small, very minor pinholes to the upper corners, otherwise VG

Binkie Beaumont (1908-1973) British theatre manager and producer, a co-founder of the theatrical management company H. M. Tennent in 1936.

Margaret Rutherford (1892-1972) English character actress, Academy Award winner. Harrison refers to a whole host of other actresses in his letter, including Muriel Aked (1883-1955), Sybil Thorndike (1882-1976), Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies (1891-1992), Marie Lohr (1890-1975), Zena Dare (1887-1975), Athene Seyler (1889-1990) and Patricia Collinge (1892-1974).

John Van Druten (1901-1957) English playwright and theatre director. At the time of the present letter Van Druten had re-staged his production of The King and I at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, where it ran for 946 performances.

Rex Harrison was appearing at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, Ontario, in a production of The Love of Four Colonels in October 1953. The Sadler´s Wells Ballet company, featuring Margot Fonteyn and Frederick Ashton, were undertaking an American tour during 1953.

John Van Druten´s play Bell, Book and Candle was first performed at the Ethel Barrymore theatre on Broadway in November 1950 and starred Rex Harrison in the role of Shepherd Henderson, opposite Harrison´s wife at the time, Lilli Palmer, who portrayed Gillian Holroyd. Harrison went on to direct a West End production of the play at London´s Phoenix theatre in October 1954, which was presented by Binkie Beaumont´s H. M. Tennent. This version relocated the action from Manhattan to Knightsbridge and the forename of the leading male character was changed from Shepherd to Anthony. Harrison and Palmer reprised their roles, Wilfrid Lawson portrayed Sidney Redlitch and the part of Miss. Holroyd (Aunt Queenie) was finally given to Athene Seyler.