SAMUEL PHELPS - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 01/22 - HFSID 304671

SAMUEL PHELPS
Brief letter by the theater manager who restored authenticity to Shakespeare's plays
Autograph Letter signed: "Saml. Phelps", 1 page, 4½x7 letter affixed to backing of the same size. Gaiety Theatre [London], January 22, no year. To "Sir", in full: "At present it is not my intention to leave town until late in the Autumn. Yours truly". English actor Samuel Phelps (1804-1878) was considered the finest King Lear of his generation, and was also celebrated for his Falstaff. He specialized in Shakespeare from his first London appearance (as Shylock) at the Haymarket Theatre in 1837. Phelps' greatest importance lies, however, in his successful efforts to revive historically authentic versions of Shakespeare's plays, which had been appearing in bowdlerized versions for nearly two centuries. In 1843, Parliament repealed the Patent Monopoly, first created by King Charles II during the Restoration. (Most theatrical works had been banned entirely under Oliver Cromwell.) The Monopoly strictly limited by license the theatres which could perform "serious drama." With this restriction gone, Phelps went to work as manager of Sadler's Wells Theatre to produce the original versions of the Bard's plays, as opposed to vulgarized adaptations. For example, King Lear had been performed with a happy ending; Phelps restored the authentic Shakespeare. In addition, he produced some Shakespeare plays, including Measure for Measure, which hadn't been staged since the original productions at the Globe Theatre in the early 1600s! Phelps thus set the pattern for Shakespearean drama and comedy which has been followed since. Foxing present. Normal mailing folds. Adhesive residue present at face (not affecting signature). Mounting residue on verso. Otherwise, fine condition.