SHAKESPEARE (WILLIAM)


Romeo and Juliet, SIGNED BY JOHN GIELGUD ("John Gielgud: Romeo, Mercutio, New Theatre 1935"), LAURENCE OLIVIER, PEGGY ASHCROFT, EDITH EVANS, AND GEORGE HOWE on the front free endpaper, with signatures of four other cast members on verso, illustration by Eric Gill on title and half-title, publisher's red cloth gilt, 12mo, J.M. Dent, [1935]
|John Gielgud directed Romeo and Juliet in 1935, alternating as Romeo and Mercutio with Laurence Olivier. "This was their sole stage appearance together. Gielgud's greater verse-speaking lyricism left Olivier feeling that victory was his rival's, perhaps causing perceived antagonism from Olivier throughout their careers, though Olivier's more masculine Romeo and his Mercutio's greater dash and swagger drew excellent reviews. The play also made Ashcroft a major classical player and broke box-office records" (ODNB).