Letter

Scope and Content

Letter from RD to his parents, relating to: the [Benson] company's imminent departure from Birmingham; their busy schedule, which has been increased for RD by his stage management duties; plans for the Benson Company's forthcoming productions of [A midsummer night's] Dream and The [merry] wives [of Windsor]; Benson's refusal to give RD a straight part, and his reasons for this; RD's reconciliation with fellow actor [James] Kirkham; his thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of his training with J[ames] B[ernard], with whom he has been having disagreements; praise of his acting ability from the long-standing Bensonian property-master Billy Phibbs, who compares RD to [Henry] Ainley; RD's pride in his own physical appearance and his newly acquired grace of movement; Ella [Voysey]; and some money from his salary which he is enclosing for his parents.

Sent from: Birmingham. Holograph. The date has been added in another hand.