Eliot, T. S. 1943 The Family Reunion . A theatre programme for the February 1943 production of The Family Reunion by T. S. Eliot. Signed by Eliot and the cast of the play. Signatures include T. S. Eliot, S. Morse, George Rylands, Ann Seligmann, A. Ray-Hills, Peter Barton, Michael Foizey, Fanny Gatehouse, Gabrielle Ullstein, Pauline Hampton, John Carthy, Nita Stevens, and others.
Produced by George Rylands and held at the A. D. C. Theatre, this amateur production was particularly notable as it was recorded as being enjoyed far more by T. S. Eliot compared to the earlier adaptation, which had been performed by professionals. As recorded in the Eliot-Hale Letters, Eliot wrote "The Performance, by undergraduates of both sexes, seemed to be a very good one: perhaps intelligently trained, educated amateurs, are better for a play by an amateur than professionals- they are more appreciative of the things that I can do well, and less put out by the faults, which are of a structural and theatrical nature.". In addition, in 1978 the producer of the performance, George Rylands recorded "In 1943 I produced the undergraduates in The Family Reunion - it was the second production. Tom came up for it and was (I think) very pleased because all the jokes went over strongly - it was a good cast - and Martin Browne's production had been rather solemn and pi.". Approx. 8.5" by 5.5" Previously owned by Stephen Morse, one of the cast members of the performance. Morse played the character of "Downing, his servant and chauffeur". His signature is present to the inside and the outside of the programme, alongside the signatures of his castmates and of T. S. Eliot. Externally, very good, with the odd handling mark and light crease.