Harwood, Ronald ~ The Dresser : The Author’s Personal Copy : Deluxe Edition – One Of Only Two Copies

Samuel French, NY, USA : 1982

The First USA Printing published by Samuel French in 1982. One of only two special deluxe copies prepared by the publisher's printer and binder : One copy for the author and one for the publisher's special collection. The BOOK is in near Fine condition. Full green morocco with four raised bands, gilt ruling and titling to the front board. Silver lettering to the spine. Green marbled end-papers. Some tiny specks of rubbing here and there. Upper edge gilt. Internally clean with just a hint of toning to the outer page edges. Text to the rectos only. Loosely inserted is a letter from M. Abbott Van Nostrand (the President of the Publisher's) to Ronald Harwood detailing this special production. The book has come from the Estate of the late Ronald Harwood. This special format was used for only the two copies with the trade edition being much smaller. 'The play was first presented on 6 March 1980 at the Royal Exchange, Manchester and transferred to the Queen's Theatre in London on 30 April 1980, with Freddie Jones as "Sir" and Tom Courtenay as Norman. The play was nominated for 'Best Play at the Society of West End Theatre Awards' (now known as the Laurence Olivier Awards) for 1980. In 2016, a production directed by Sean Foley and starring Ken Stott and Reece Shearsmith played theatres including the Duke of York's Theatre in London's West End. The play opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway on 9 November 1981 and ran for 200 performances, with Tom Courtenay reprising his performance as Norman and Paul Rogers as "Sir", union rules preventing Freddie Jones reprising the role. The play was nominated for the 1982 'Tony Award for Best Play, Best Actor' in a Play (Tom Courtenay) and the 'Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play' (Paul Rogers). The play was further adapted as a 1983 film of the same title, with a screenplay by Harwood. The film was directed by Peter Yates and produced by Yates with Ronald Harwood; and starred Albert Finney as "Sir" and Tom Courtenay as Norman, with Zena Walker as "Her Ladyship", Eileen Atkins as Madge and Edward Fox as Oxenby. Finney and Courtenay were both nominated for 'Academy Awards', 'BAFTA Awards and Golden Globe Awards' for their performances, with Courtenay winning the 'Golden Globe Award for Best Actor'. A television version for the BBC was shown in the UK on 31 October 2015. Richard Eyre directed Anthony Hopkins as "Sir" and Ian McKellen as Norman, with Emily Watson as "Her Ladyship", Sarah Lancashire as Madge and Edward Fox as Thornton. A radio adaptation for BBC Radio 4 was broadcast on 11 December 1993. It was adapted and directed by David Blount. Freddie Jones played Sir and Michael Palin played Norman '(Wiki). One of Harwood's highlight titles. A very handsome production.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Near Fine