Lot 117
Leigh Vivien 1913 - 1967 Vivian Leigh writes to Joyce Huddart, a personal friend with a theater connection in London
Single page TLS on off white stationary, 5.75" x 7.75" with Vivien Leigh's personal letterhead. Dated the 31st July 1963, Majestic Theatre, New York, and signed by Vivien Leigh "Affectionately Vivien Leigh". Right edge is slightly discolored, overall very light dimpling. Expected center fold. Else near fine.
Vivien Leigh writes a letter to her close friend, Joyce Huddart. One can project that she perhaps met Joyce during her period acting in the theaters of London. Joyce was head of wardrobe and also participated as stage crew for the London Tower Theatre, and the two corresponded regularly over a period of many years. Vivien Leigh's ultimate passion was for roles in theater. She was quoted as saying, "I'm not a film star - I'm an actress. Being a film star - just a film star - is such a false life, lived for fake values and for publicity. Actresses go on for a long time and there are always marvelous parts to play."
This letter to Joyce was written during her role in the "Tovarich" which was on stage at the Majestic Theatre in New York. Her letter is indicative that Leigh was more accustomed to the weather back in the UK, rather than the heat and humidity one can encounter in New York in late July, remarking "The heat here is appalling, and so I spend every day possible in the country, in kind friends swimming pools." and noted the play was transferring "to the Wintergarden Theatre on October 7th." Vivien had already endured an extended and turbulent battle with bipolar disorder, which had taken a long and exhausting toll on her marriage to Sir Lawrence and by the time of this letter was with actor Jack Merivale. Written just a few years after her divorce from Sir Lawrence, and even with her continued obsession with Larry, Jack and Vivien married while her moods became more and more uncontrollable. She was drinking, refusing to sleep and flying into inexplicable rages or sunk in gloom. Jack wrote to Olivier to tell him so and in effect, to take over responsibility for her. Vivien and Jack stayed together until her death just four years later.
A wonderful early signed letter to her personal friend.
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