The Lake: A Play in Three Acts (Presentation copy signed by Katherine Hepburn who starred in the first Broadway production and whose acting in that production as Stella led to the notoriously famous Dorothy Parker Quote that Hepburn '"ran the gamut of emotions from A to B.'

(HEPBURN, Katharine.) MASSINGHAM, Dorothy in conjunction with Murray MACDONALD.

Published by New York: Doubleday, Doran & Company, 1933

(HEPBURN, Katharine.) MASSINGHAM, Dorothy in conjunction with Murray MACDONALD. The Lake: A Play in Three Acts. New York: Doubleday, Doran & Company 1933. First American edition. Presentation copy signed by Katherine Hepburn who starred in the first Broadway production: To Richard Aldrich/ Katharine Hepburn . With Richard Aldrich s Casa de Aldrich armorial bookplate on free front endpaper. Bound in full blue Spanish calf leather, with author and title in gilt on spine, separated by raised bands also decorated in gilt; marbled paper end papers; speckled edges. The faintest of foxing on second front and back free endpapers, otherwise a Near Fine copy. Note: The Lake debuted on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on December 26, 1933 and was one of acting legend Katharine Hepburn's first major Broadway roles. Directed by Jed Harris, the notorious "big bad wolf" of American theatre, the play was a critical and popular flop, though it had a respectable run of 55 nights. Hepburn in particular drew sharp rebukes in the newspapers, many of which were penned by the same critics who loved her in The Warrior's Husband. Columnist Dorothy Parker famously quipped that Hepburn "ran the gamut of emotions from A to B." Despite the poor response, Harris decided to take the show to Chicago, saying to Hepburn, "My dear, the only interest I have in you is the money I can make out of you." Hepburn refused, and paid Harris everything she had, $13,675, to close the production instead. Hepburn later referred to Harris as "hands-down the most diabolical person I have ever met", and claimed this experience was important in teaching her to take responsibility for her career. In 1937, Hepburn included a line from The Lake in the film Stage Door, thus making fun of her biggest failure. The line became one of Hepburn's signature catchphrases: "The calla lilies are in bloom again, such a strange flower, suitable to any occasion.". Seller Inventory # ABE-1712050105807

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Lake: A Play in Three Acts (Presentation...
Publisher: New York: Doubleday, Doran & Company
Publication Date: 1933
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Near Fine
Signed: Signed by Author(s)
Edition: 1st Edition