Re: Your voice in the modern world
Charles Dickens (charles_dickens@TCNS.CO.UK)
Wed, 3 Apr 1996 10:45:03 -0100
>My dear Mr Holden,
> No one, as you perceive, is more dedicated to gaslight than myself. I
>have said before, that my idea of bliss is to be an actor manager, ever
>busy with acting, rehearsal, production, scenery, box office - all the
>day-to-day spell-casting of the theatre that yields its other-worldly magic.
>Is it strange for me to confess that not even the writing of books, not even
>the acclaim that is its reward, matches for me the glory of those
>dusty boards?
> You speak to me of your electric theatre, television as you call it. It has
>its fascination, to be sure. But I do not think I could be happy writing
>story lines, as you put it, for television soap operas (a phrase I wish
>had been available for playful misuse in my day). Your very words betray
>what I should be unable to endure - "writing story lines." An actor manager,
>my dear sir, could never be happy with the mere writing of story lines.
>Everything - everything - must be under my personal control. I am not
>persuaded that everything is under anyone's control, when I see your
>television dramas. The Inimitable would become a raging lion, impotently
>subjected to such goads.
> It is kind indeed of you, to say you have never seen a screen adaptation
>of any of my books you like as much as the book itself. The labours
>of theatrical adaptors have usually been a trial to me, though there have
>been exceptions - dramatisations by men I trust, whom I have authorised,
>and with whom I have cooperated. Needless to say that is the case with
>no screen adaptor. For all that, the Inimitable's laughter at their efforts
>is not invariably hollow and melancholy. Hearty mirth breaks out
>from time to time, and heartfelt tears. Good and bad are to be found
>here, as elsewhere.
>Faithfully yours,
>Charles Dickens
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Charles Dickens
charles_dickens@tcns.co.uk
Author, Traveller and Educator