BERYL REID - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 01/21/1990 - HFSID 206652
Price: $320.00
BERYL REID
Tony and BAFTA TV Award-winning actress Beryl Reid signed this
letter, typed on her personalized stationery in 1980. In it, she answers a
question what was her favorite performance from another actor. The
answer: Frances de la Tour in Duet for One. De la Tour won the 1980
Lawrence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a New Play for her performance, the
the same year Reid won the award for Best Comedy Performance in Born in the
Gardens.
Typed letter signed "Beryl Reid". Pencil notations on verso in
unknown hand. 1 page, 8x10, on Reid's personalized stationery. Jan. 21, 1990.
Addressed to Mr. William W. Stanhope, Albuquerque, New Mexico. In full:
"Dear Mr. Stanhope, (William) Thank you so much for your letter and
extra-ordinary request, although I find it quite easy to answer. My favourite
performance of all time was done by Francise [sic] de la Toure [sic]
in DUET FOR ONE. I had a wonderful night in the theatre and was amazed
that such a marvellous [sic] play could be made out of such an extraordinary
subject. It was of course, the life of Jacqueline du Prez, the cellist who died
of multiple sclerosis. The action of the whole play was her visits to the
psychologist and her changing moods through the illness. In spite of this it
was marvellously [sic] interesting and I thought she didn't put a foot wrong.
She got a Lawrence Olivier Award for Best Actress and I got the same thing for
Best Comedy Actress, the same year. Well I hope my letter enlightening. With
best wishes, Yours sincerely, BERYL REID O.B.E." FRANCES DE LA TOUR, born
in 1944, won the 1980 Lawrence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a New Play for
Duet for One, the same year Reid won the award for Best Comedy
Performance in Born in the Gardens. British actor and comedienne Reid
(1920-1996) got her start in a revue during the summer of 1936 in the resort
town of Bridlington. Despite having no formal training, she joined the Royal
National Theatre in London as a comedy actress and went on to appear in almost
80 movies and TV shows between 1948 and 1994. Ever cheerful and bright, Reid
specialized in slightly sauced old ladies later in her career. She acted against
type when she portrayed sadistic, cigar-chomping lesbian June Buckridge in
the original 1964 West End production of The Killing of Sister George.
But the stretch paid off. She went on to win a Tony Award for her
reprisal of Buckridge in the original Broadway version (1966-1967), as well
as a Golden Globe nomination for her reprisal in the 1968 film adaptation.
She also portrayed Soviet intelligence specialist Connie Sachs in two BBC-TV
adaptations of John le Carré novels, Tinker, Sailor, Soldier, Spy
(1979)and Smiley's People (1982), winning a BAFTA TV award for
her performance in Smiley's People. Reid was made an Officer of
the British Empire in 1986. Lightly toned and creased. Folded twice and
unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition.
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