ThursdayPatty, dear!
I can't remember if I wrote you since you sent the picture of us at the Fair. I'm confused again. I've had one of those hectic spells - you know, rush-rush here, rush-rush there. Seems ages since I've written a letter - I think it has been ages. My humblest apologies, Pat, honey.
So, anyhow, thanks extremely for the photograph. I shall press it in my book of golden memoirs. Aren't you on any of them? The pictures, I mean.
By the way, that movie bit was for Warner Bros. "The Old Man & the Sea," with Spencer Tracy. Haven't heard anything since then. Had an interview at the Wm. Morris agency and that's all. Guess I wasn't Cuban enough[.]
I have been rehearsing a [...] ballet for a backer's audition, which came off last Sunday. A new type of musical comedy that introduces "modern" music. By "modern" I mean chords that don't fit, you know? Sort of like a modern day opera. Kinda weird. Anyhow, it's about the tennis set on Long Island. I happen to be one of four persons who play a game of doubles - balletic-like. Personally, I don't think it'll sell, but the backers like it.
Went to see Hal Hamilton's "Lilliom" at ELT. I thought he did the best he could, considering he really wasn't right for the part. Mr. Gage didn't like him. He didn't get good reviews. They said he spent too much time worrying about facial expressions.
Marcie opened this week in "Curious Savage" at ELT.
Don't think I'll be going back to Allenberry this season. He's got his Jr. Staff already picked and I know he wouldn't hire someone else to do a role anyone of the Jr. Staff could do. Dammit. I just finished reading "Dear Charles" this evening and I would give my eye teeth to do Bruno. It's a lovely part. I just don't know what I'm going to do this summer and it's worrying me to no end. Summer Theatres are casting already.
A new agent, I went to see, has me down for an interview and audition for "Eight Cousins", a Broadway musical scheduled for fall rehearsal. So what do I do 'till fall!!
Bit of news - Hal and John are breaking up housekeeping. Hal is going home to Kansas for a month around April and then he's going to look for a cheap apartment in the village. He says he wants to be alone for a while. The whole thing came about so sudden and Wally and I think (we're like two old maids!) there's something behind it all. They've already sub-leased their apartment until the lease runs out in Nov. They just extended the lease this past November. I finally met John and he seems sorta weird to me. Don't know why. They both seem like they're still the best of friends.
We were assigned scenes again in acting class. I'm to do Brick in a scene with Big Daddy from "Cat". Can't you just see me as Brick? We were told we were being given these particular scenes for technical reasons and that we could never be expected to actually play the role professionally. It's the scene where Brick tells Big Daddy that he has cancer. I'm glad now I didn't see the play or I'd probably want to copy. Patricia Neal took over Barbara Bel Geddes' part.
Mr. Gage and Betty will be coming up here shortly, I guess. Are you coming down when they do - to see Betty, of course? I'll try to find out when they definitely are scheduled to arrive and for how long they'll be staying.
I don't like to keep talking about myself (not really) but must tell you about something else I did in acting class. A scene from Hamlet - me being Hamlet, of course. Worked like crazy on it and my teacher said it was superb work. Made me feel so good. I was so discouraged at first 'cause I don't care for Shakespeare, and what's more, I don't understand it. So it was sorta difficult to get started.
So whatcha been up to lately? You busy presently, too? When are you coming down with your class?
I saw "Plain and Fancy" again. This time for free. Tickets from the Wing. Enjoyed it much more the second time. New cast. Barbara Cook was back and stole the show. The guy who played Peter was better, also. Was sitting in the orchestra in the center at that. Wonderful seats. It really makes a difference where you sit.
Well, kiddo, gotta get some work done. How's Don? and Dee? and Judy?
Gary took over Wally's job at NBC. Can't see Gary giving tours - pleasantly. I guess I shouldn't say that.
Write soon, hear!
Love & kisses
Dick