CHAPTER 53: PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE - DECEMBER 1926


Ivor Novello

Aldwych
London
19 December 1926

My Darling Country Mouse,

Thank you for your sweet note of encouragement. I thought Liliom would be another easy rendition of The Rat character, but Liliom is more of a brute. We open on the 23rd, and I don't know how convincing I will be in the role.

I was happy to accommodate John and Anna for a couple of days, especially when you explained about Anna's surgery. It was wise of John to insist that the procedure be performed by the same doctor who managed Anna's last pregnancy. I was surprised that Timothy wasn't with them. I'm certain the little adventurer had fun camping in your room at night.

Morgan met John and Anna at the station, and I happened to be home from rehearsal when they arrived. Noël was here too, at my request, to help me with my performance. He's been acting since he was eleven, you know, and knows a thing or two about it.

Even though John and I have been corresponding, I was nervous about seeing him again. As you say, he can have an intimidating presence. When Morgan opened the door, Anna was clutching John's arm. No doubt she expected my flat to be an opium den. John's hat was pulled down over his eyes, and there he stood with a rather chilling aura about him. He made me think of Marley's Ghost.

What do you think he did? He pulled off his hat and asked, "Aren't you going to kiss me?" What could I do? I gave him a big kiss on the mouth. We all had a good giggle, and the ice was broken.

John and Anna understood the strain I was under and made no demands on me. They settled into their room, and Noël continued his acting lesson. After a time, John came out and sat with us. He had no desire to interrupt us but had been banished from the bedroom for being "too solicitous a husband". Poor fellow! The next thing I knew, the dear man was waiting on us, refilling our drinks and bringing us sandwiches.

John listened to Noël's advice on playing a tough. I should plant my feet apart. I should hold my arms this way, not that, etc. John laughed, and Noël was indignant. John told Noël that he had been in prison and that none of his advice would have helped him survive. Noël didn't believe his prison story, and I didn't know what to think.

John gave me a wink, grabbed my lapels, and pulled me to my feet. He threatened me and pushed me backward. He slammed me against the wall, but with his hand behind my head to protect it (the sweetheart). He pressed his arm against my chest to pin me and brought his eyes to mine. If the wink hadn't forewarned me, I would have been terrified. (Honestly, I was anyway.)

John leaned into me and challenged me to overpower him. "Don't convince the audience that you're tough. Convince me. Believe that I'll end your life, right here, right now. If you believe that, you'll find a way. I did when I was in prison, and I didn't have an audience."

Noël was scribbling notes furiously. I tried to pull myself free of John's arm but he shook his head. "Struggling makes you seem weak. And your charm won't work on me; I'm too stupid. You must take command. Laugh at me. Belittle my weaknesses." I didn't know how to begin, so he coached me. "Make fun of my limp and my manhood. Tell me you've slept with my wife and make me believe it. Say it as though it's all a big joke to you. Don't let me see your fear." I tried, but I was too shaken. He took pity and released me. He told me that I was the younger of us and could have overpowered him. I only had to knock his bad leg from under him. He had succeeded because he caught me off-guard. Then John went to his room, returned with needle and thread, and sat sweetly, sewing on the button he had inadvertently popped off my coat.

Unfortunately for me, John and I had little time together. He read the play while I was sleeping and worked with me before and after rehearsals. My performance has improved thanks to him. I'm miscast, but at least I won't be laughed out of the West End.

Now then, you and I must do something about those funereal black suits of John's before your little tribe leaves for the States! We must introduce him to midnight blue.

I miss you, darling,

Love,

Your City Mouse


Thomas Barrow

Downton
28 December 1926

My Dear Santarelli,

I am pleased to report that we sold our last ticket two days before the dance. I'll send you an analysis and a profit/loss report for your feedback before the end of the week.

Once again you offered sound advice. My partnership with John and Anna Bates did require a test run. John and I disagreed vehemently within the first hour of our first meeting. I thought John's ideas were moth-eaten, and he thought mine were depraved. Anna thought John and I were all mouth and trousers. Thank god for Anna. She would chair our arguments and lead us to options that excited both John and me.

Still, it wasn't until John and Anna were obliged to go to London only ten days before the dance that I truly understood the value of the partnership. With John there to contain me, I could let my imagination take our venture anywhere. Without him, I became anxious and second-guessed myself into paralysis.

I will teach John to come out of the shadows, and he will teach me the elegance of restraint. Anna will keep us from killing each other. I am confident that ours will be a successful partnership.

Your grateful student,

Thomas