Sir, I was not surprised to read (letter, June 16) about performers in extremis resorting to a different piece.
Years ago, when playing Richard II in Northern Ireland, I saw that my uncle, John of Gaunt, was in the wings in a frightful muddle with his nightshirt, and by no means ready to start his death scene. I pulled my cousin Aumerle forward and confided in him (something like):
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. . . and so on, inserting his successor’s verdict on his reign from the following play.
My collaboration with Shakespeare produced a self-critical moment quite wrong for that scene, but it enabled uncle to get his nightie straight.
Yours faithfully,
ROGER SANSOM,
65 Clinton Crescent,
Hainault, Essex IG6 3AN.
June 16.