PINERO, Arthur W.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Trelawny of the "Wells". The author's own pre-publication copy, "printed as a theatrical prompt-book merely; not for circulation", interleaved with blank pages for the author's notes. This copy has a number of corrections to the text, several notes, and a page of revised dialogue. The author's ownership signature and address is on a preliminary blank.Pinero's play was first performed at the Royal Court Theatre on 20 January 1898 and first published the following year. Copies of this "prompt book", printed at the Chiswick Press, are not common, and only three are traced in institutional libraries (British Library, Bodleian, and National Library of Scotland). When the lay was revived in 1925, Pinero revised his text, and it is this significantly altered text which was published by Samuel French in 1936. That publication formed the basis for subsequent editions.The play has enjoyed some significant productions in the modern era, including one at Lincoln Center that included Meryl Streep in her Broadway debut in 1975. There have been three film adaptations (1916, 1928, and 1938), three BBC TV productions (1949, 1971, and 1985), and numerous radio broadcasts. A musical version, scored by Julian Slade, was first produced in 1972.Pinero has added short notes or single words to blank leaves opposite pages 19, 20, 23 and 24 and a final blank. There are textual changes to pages 5, 18, 40, 95, and 97. The blank page opposite page 27 presents new text for Rose and Arthur in the final act

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