RAT re: the sassies(oneil)

["Glen-Skip-Newell" <skipworthy@hotmail.com>]

Nick(et al )-

When Carlotta gave permission, it was for a small company in Sweden...then
it was for  Jose (whom she adored) to take the masterpeice to his struggling
company ( the Circle in the Square) and produce it, to reveal onstage and
exorcise once and for all the beautiful torment of the (Oneil ) clan. She
did it with all the love and understanding only she could offer, in that she
knew (she felt) that Quintero was the man to reveal this vision and release
the ghosts the play held. In fact, O'Neils actual request was that he hadn't
wanted the play done until after Eugene junior's death...once he (gene jr.
committed suicide, it no longer mattered- in his will, he released all his
work to Carlotta- and after seeing his work on The Iceman Cometh (of
O'Neil's masterworks), she was convinced

  After seeing a dress rehearsal , with Frederick March, Jason Robards ,
Florence Eldridge and Bardford Dillman, Carlotta wept...

"Poor Gene. He would come downstairs from his study. his eyes were so red
that I knew he had been crying. It got to be my agony. I tried not to look
at his eyes.Then when the play was finished, he put it on my lap and said,
'read the first page.' I not only read it, but I memorized it so well that
it will probably be the only thing I will remember when I die."

Skip

> Eugene O'Neill asked his wife not to publish Long Day's Journey into Night
> until 25 years after his death.  In disregarding his wish Carlotta
ethically
> transgressed the permissions granted her.  In this betrayal she found the
> truth and beauty of the playwright's gift.
>
> **********
>
> For Carlotta, on our 12th Wedding Anniversary
>
> Dearest: I give the original script of this play of old sorrow, written in
> tears and blood.  A sadly inappropriate gift, it would seem, for a day
> celebrating happiness.  But you will understand.  I mean it as tribute to
> your love and tenderness which gave me the faith in love that enabled me
to
> face my dead at last and write this play-write it with deep pity and
> understanding and forgiveness four all the four haunted Tyrones.
>
> These 12 years, Beloved One, have been a Journey into Light - into love.
You
> know my gratitude.  And my love!
>
> Gene
>
> Tao House
> July 22, 1941.
>