[Radio script]: A Tale of Two Cities

WELLES, Orson, John Houseman. Adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens

Published by (The Columbia Broadcasting System, Orson Welles and The Mercury Theatre on the Air), [New York], 1938

About this Item

Quarto. 94 mimeographed leaves printed rectos only. Bound (or likely rebound at an early date) with quarter canvas spine and thick card boards with typed title labels on front board and spine. Modest evidence of bookplate removal inside front board, small chip at the corner of the label on the front board, else very near fine. Adapted from the Charles Dickens novel. The Mercury Theatre on the Air produced 22 radio plays based on literary novels, plays, or short stories in 1938, this was the third play produced. Up until October, 1938, all of the adaptations, including this one, were written by Orson Welles and John Houseman. Overwhelmed by the weekly deadlines (Welles also starred in most of the dramas, sometimes playing multiple parts), they hired Howard Koch to assist - three weeks later they collaborated on *The War of the Worlds* - arguably the most famous dramatic radio broadcast in history. In *A Tale of Two Cities*, Welles played both Sidney Carton and Dr. Alexandre Manette in this production. In the script, page two is blank, except for the word "Welles" - presumably Welles would deliver his introduction extemporaneously. The Mercury Theatre on the Air scripts are rare. *OCLC* locates a single copy of this script (Dartmouth).

Seller Inventory # 552364

Bibliographic Details

• Title: [Radio script]: A Tale of Two Cities
• Publisher: (The Columbia Broadcasting System, Orson Welles and The Mercury Theatre on the Air), [New York]
• Publication Date: 1938
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Near Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • Drama