27 OCTOBER 1950, Page 14

EXHIBITION

A COMPREHENSIVE exhibition organised by Mr. Ifan Kyrie Fletcher to illustrate the history of the British theatre from 1530 to 1900 will be on view at 7 Albermarle Street, W.', until December 2, and deserves a visit from all who are interested in the various branches of the art, from the plays themselves and dramatic criticism to acting, scenery and theatre architecture. The four hundred items have been selected from many public and private collections, the Enthoven collection, the Garrick Club collection and the Mander and Mitchenson collection being conspicuous among them. Eton College has lent the only sur- viving copy of Udall's Ralph Roister Doister, while Henslowe's diary and account book comes from Dulwich College and J. de Witt's drawing of the .Swan Theatre, London (c. 1596) from Utrecht University—this unique record being perhaps the most important single item in the exhibition. There are also manuscripts and prompt books used by many of the great actors, including Irving's copy of Richard III with a passage marked by him " Deep and Deadly ' and an interesting collection showing the development of The Only Way. A characteristic letter from Ellen Terry about the ladies' dresses in King Lear (1892), some agreeable china figures of James Quin and others, Zoffany's painting of Garrick and Mrs. Cibber in Venice Perserved, and a copy of Pryde's famous anti' rare lithograph of Irving as Dubosc all help to round off an exciting display which no lover of the theatre will want to miss.

DEREK HUDSON.