ROBERT KEELEY - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 01/09/1829 - HFSID 277577

ROBERT KEELEY
Keeley handwrote, signed and dated this letter to James Thorne at the Theatre Royal in Edinburgh. Much of it is taken up by a poem about a disastrous dinner of grouse and black cock; it was so bad, Keeley writes, that "prose cannot do justice - our taste will not permit us".
Autograph letter signed "R. Keeley". 3 pages, 7¼x9 (one sheets folded, front and verso). Jan. 9, 1829. Addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. Thorne/not known what flat they live at/to be found if you look sharp - quite/natural at the/Theatre Royal/Edinburgh". A page and a-half of this three-page letter is taken up by a poem about Our Game Dinner, about a dinner that Keeley had made for a friend, a dinner so horrendous, so disastrous that "prose cannot do justice - our taste will not permit us". Keeley (1793-1860) was a well-known British actor who had starred in productions at Covent Garden. He was a successful low comedian, with a humorous style based on his stocky appearance, slow, jerky delivery and a good line in pathos. Keeley's roles include Dogbery inMuch Ado About Nothing and the nurse Mrs. Gamp in the stage version of Dickens' Martin Chuzzlewit, in which he was coached by Charles Dickens himself. Lightly toned, stained and creased. Tears along edges. Wax seal remnants on page 4. Folded five times horizontally and twice vertically. Heavily worn, torn, toned and with pinholes and larger holes along folds. Tape repairs along folds. Part of leftmost vertical fold has completely separated and is missing. Otherwise in fine condition.