[Christopher Fry, playwright.] Programme, with illustrated cover by him: 'Christopher Fry's Coronation Revue "The Birds Began to Sing". In aid of Dr. Barnardo's Homes.' With 'Coronation Enrolment' carrying autograph note by Fry loosely inserted.

24pp, 4to. Stapled pamphlet. Aged, and with spotting to covers, creased closed tear at foot of spine, and slight loss to bottom out corner of back cover. With one vertical fold. The cover is printed in black, with a charming cartoon by 'C. F.' in red ink of five happy birds singing and flying around with musical scores in wings, with one bird on box with conductor's baton tapping a music stand. The five leaves at the front of the pamphlet, and the five at the back on shiny art paper, mainly filled with local advertisements; the two central leaves, carrying the programme proper, on watermarked laid paper. The seventh page carries a list of 'Patrons', details of officers of the 'Barnardo Helpers' League | Tunbridge Wells Habitation', and a half-page article (by Fry?) on 'Agra House (1)', beginning: 'Do you know Agra House? Whenever I pass down the road, I see passers-by craning their necks to look over the fence at the children playing in the garden.' The four central pages, with the programme, describe the piece as having 'Words and Music by CHRISTOPHER FRY | Dances arranged by THE TEWSON SCHOOL OF DANCING'. The revue is in two parts, each with twelve pieces, followed by details of the crew and props, ending: 'Telephone kindly lent by the G.P.O.' Details of the cast of each of the twenty-four pieces are given, as for example, from Part One: '7. "What's Wrong With Mabel?" | SCENE: The Star's Dressing Room in a West-End Theatre. | Ivy . . . CHRISTINE RUSH. | Mabel . . . VIOLET GOULD. | The Manager . . . GEOFFREY QUAIFE. | "Ovalvitaquick."' Also, from Part Two: '2. "Breakdown in Boo-loo Boo-loo." | Lady Trudge, the lady explorer . . . VIOLET GOULD. | Her Secretary . . . RENEE TORRIANO. | The Native . . . ROGER ELAND. | "My Heart's in Darkest Africa."' The most elaborate of the pieces, itself in two parts ('The Committee' and 'The Performance') is 'Coronation Pageant.' Loosely inserted in the volume is an 8vo leaf printed on one side in purple ink with a 'Dr. Barnardo's Homes' 'Coronation Enrolment' subscription application, illustrated with drawing of the royal couple George VII and Elizabeth. In Fry's autograph on reverse: 'Sorry I have not had time to send this off but we had no envelopes to fit, as wrappers. | Many thanks for lovely long letter. | Its a lovely day.' No other copy traced on OCLC WorldCat.