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Typed Letter Signed, 1 page
Monday, November 22, 1920
Provincetown
To Richard Madden

 

Provincetown, Mass.
Nov. 22, 1920.

My dear Madden:

I have signed the Liveright agreements and am enclosing them to you herewith.

By all means, please have the copies of "The Old Davil" made as soon as possible.  I am convinced you are mistaken in regard to this play, and that it is one of my best.  As I said in my last letter, there has been a great difference of opinion among those who have read it, running the gamut from high praise to bitter panning.  All of which lends zest to an author's life.  At all events, I am determined to stand uncompromisingly behind it to the last ditch.  If it can find no producer in the commercial theatre, it will at least see the light finally via the Provincetown Players.  But I am by no means sure that Hopkins will not give it serious consideration.

Whatever Bright may have to say, I can vouch for the importance of the Everyman Theatre - its commercial importance, I don't mean.  I have all the clippings from the London papers relative to their opening and all are favorable.  A theatre that has Shaw, Chesterton, Wells, Galsworthy, Walpole, Ervine, Dunsany, etc. as sponsors needs no further recommendation in my eyes.  I think that to get them to do a one-act play of mine would be a great stride forward, even if there wasn't a nickel in it for me.  And I wish you would write Mr. Bright to that effect.  (For that matter, there is no coin in short plays in England, anyway - not even a Little Theatre return)

With all best wishes,

Eugene O'Neill.

P.S.  Hope you have heard from the Famous P.!!!!!

 

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