"Reply." in: The Living Theatre. Stein / Picasso / Eliot
[New York]: The Living Theatre, 1952. Printed illustrated wrappers, stapled. 16pp. Printed (likely via lino or monotype) on cheap brown paper, text block detached from staples with some chipping at the head of the spine and a small chip at the top front corner. A fragile survival.
Program for the inaugural season of The Living Theatre, held at the Cherry Lane Theatre in Greenwich Village. This March 2, 1952 program featured three performances: Gertrude Stein's "Ladies' Voices," Pablo Picasso's "Desire (Trapped by the Tail)," and T.S. Eliot's "Sweeney Agonistes." (A side note of interest is the casting of John Ashbury [sic] and Frank OHara [sic] as "the two bow-wows" in the Picasso play.) The program includes a text on the Picasso and Eliot plays by "J.M." (likely Judith Malina, co-director, along with Julian Beck, of the Living Theatre), a poetic piece by John Cage, and Williams' "Reply," a text addressed to "X" commenting on poetry and prose sent to Williams for comment. The program also includes a listing of Living Theatre actors and staff with bios, sponsors, as well as promotion for Julian Beck’s paintings on view at the theatre, and advertisements for local businesses (Phoenix Book Shop, Jack Delaney's, Mother Hubbard, and others). Cover illustration by Picasso. Wallace D9. Item #1971
Price: $350.00