MS 679 01 05 01

MS 679 01 05 01

Moelwyn Merchant archive: Autograph letters from Christopher Fry to Moelwyn Merchant and related papers

File

1951-1992

6 envelopes with a total of 263 items

A large collection of letters and papers mainly made up of letters and postcards from Fry to Merchant, as well letters from Fry and his wife Phyllis to Lynne Merchant. Interspersed regularly throughout the papers are letters from Fry’s agent Adza Vincent to Merchant and other related correspondence. Amongst the letters are other related papers including typescripts, programmes sent with the letters.

The letters are divided as follows:

Letters sent 1950-1955: The early letters relate to Merchant’s involvement with vetting Fry’s play ‘A Sleep of Prisoners’. It includes a letter from Bill Williams from the Religious Drama Society about the play and an autograph letter from Merchant to Fry commenting on the play.
Also including an advertising leaflet for ‘A Sleep of Prisoners’

The later letters in these years talk about Fry’s latest writings or performances of his plays, and comment on Merchant’s work, including lecture tours

Letters sent 1956-1959: Subjects include Fry’s writing of ‘Curtmantle’, often with Fry asking for Merchant’s help in clarifying certain points, particularly with regard to religion; Fry’s stay in Rome, where he was joined by Merchant for a period; and general conversation about holidays, plays he has seen, or arrangements to meet. Including several letters from Adza Vincent.

Also including a copy of a programme for ‘At the drop of a hat’ at the Fortune Theatre; a copy of the script for ‘Poets and Poetry: Christopher Fry’ by Robert Gittings (broadcast on the BBC Home Service, 1959); and a copy of an article ‘Shakespeare and Christopher Fry’ by Jacob H. Adler (reprinted from Educational Theatre Journal’, vol. XI, May 1959, no.2)

Letters sent 1960-1965: Subjects include performances of Christopher Fry’s plays in Germany, a foreword to an edition of some of Fry’s plays, his continued writing of ‘Curtmantle’ and general conversation about holidays or arrangements to meet. Including several postcards and letters from Adza Vincent.

Letters sent 1966-1970: Subjects include various plays he was working on. Included in the file are a typescript copy of a poem ‘Rhineland’ and a corrected typescript for the play ‘Heat of the Day’
Letters sent 1971-1979: Subjects include a piece he is writing on Keats (a typescript of which is enclosed); productions of ‘The Lady’s Not for Burning’; his praise of Merchant’s poems; projects he has lined up and general conversation about holidays or plays he has seen.

Also included is a copy of ‘Death’ by Christopher Fry, a lecture delivered in Chichester Cathedral on 9 November 1977

Letters sent 1980-1995: Subjects include upcoming productions of his work; praising Merchant’s work and general conversation about holidays and meeting up.

Also included is a fair copy typescript copy of Fry’s poem ‘The Weald & Downland Open Air Museum’ and a fair copy typescript of ‘Words for Choirs and Orchestra’, a piece Fry wrote for the 1992 Chichester Festival

Originally held in large bundles, the letters are arranged chronologically and divided into smaller folders for preservation purposes and ease of access