BENNETT, Alan.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Getting On. First edition, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "To Clive Hirschhorn, with best wishes, Alan Bennett". Hirschhorn was the film and theatre critic for the Sunday Express for almost three decades. His pencilled ownership inscription is on the front pastedown.This was Bennett's second play, premiering in October 1971 at London's Queen's Theatre and directed by Patrick Garland. The play had a stormy rehearsal period. Kenneth More, who played the main character, clashed with Bennett to such an extent that Bennett was banned from the theatre. More refused "to say certain lines he felt his public would not accept, despite Bennett's protestations that the play would be 'disembowelled'" (Bergan, p. 156). With Bennett's absence, and without his approval, many lines were cut from the play for the performance. The published version prints Bennett's script in full.Despite the unauthorized changes, the play received the Evening Standard award for the Best Comedy of 1971.

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