Printed copy of a letter to Professor J C C Mays from Robinson, in which he asks for his help in identifying a verse with 'a Coleridge echo' quoted by Colville Scott in his diary.

Says they had Ray's play down for revival during the previous month but had so much new work to get through that they were not able to do it. Says Allgood and O’Donovan will be gone for most of March so unless they come back the last week they won’t be able to do it until autumn. Says he liked the new ending of the play (Martin Whelan) but that Brophy hadn’t made Whelan and the girl’s conversations human enough yet. Says he thought of asking him to try again but thought that in rehearsal he could alter some things. Mentions he is glad to hear that Brophy has a new play. 1911 is written in pencil in the top right-hand corner. Ray’s name appears in the letterhead for the first time. This is the first typed letter to Ray on Abbey letterhead.

Thanks Brophy for sending him a program, says he found a copy of it in the office. Says they might revive Whelan in Easter week, or the week after, but he is unsure. Says he is glad to hear the new play is getting on well. W.A. Henderson is no longer listed as secretary in the Abbey letterhead, no secretary at all.

Asks if it would be possible for Brophy to buy some “rough suits, such as the country people wear”. Says he thinks he could get them in the market in Cork. Says they want some new ones for their wardrobe, and they don’t need to be made of all the same material. Says he would like about five suits, and four of “those white flannel jackets, such as the country people wear.” Says it is impossible to get those things in Dublin, and if Brophy succeeds in buying them he will send him a check.

Says he has not yet seen “Gombeenism”, but will ask Yeats to show it to him. Says that Yeats thought it would be good “when somewhat altered”, and that they may be able to get to it in the autumn when they are in Dublin and are able to put on new work. Also says he doesn't know if they will be able to put on Martin Whelan before they go to England, but not to be too discouraged because he thinks Whelan is good except for some of the speeches of the principal characters which he describes as “unlifelike”. Asks Brophy not to grudge him for producing a new play, that he has not done one for two years and if Brophy’s new play is put on in the autumn it would be “just the same rate of progression”. Abbey stationery is drastically different (simpler) from 1911.

A detailed critique of "Gombeenism" compared to "The Casting Out of Martin Whelan", such as plot and character that were stronger in Whelan. Also mentions meeting with Yeats to discuss Ray's play and most recent changes. 1912 is written in pencil in the top right-hand corner. Letter is handwritten by Robinson

Says he is sorry Brophy is distressed about Martin Whelan. Says the play did not go well on Wednesday night and that the audience didn't seem to like it and so they decided not to repeat it on Saturday. Says they had not played it since October 1910 and had forgotten it more than he thought and didn't have as many rehearsals as they should have. Says the papers were all respectful, and sends along one or two Brophy might not have seen. Sent from “Court Theatre, Sloane Square”, London, on Abbey letterhead.

Says he has received the new version of Martin Whelan, and that it is tentatively down for December 5th. Back to more detailed Abbey letterhead.

Encloses a check of £3.1.3 for one performance of “Martin Whelan” from June 14, asks him to sign and return the receipt. Sent from “Royal Court Theatre, Sloane’s Square, London, SW” on Abbey stationery.

Says he has now read Martin Whelan and thinks it is good. Sending it to Mr. Yeats to read and if he is happy with it they will produce it on December 5th. Says the autumn program is mapped out very carefully that it is impossible to change the date, but he will remember that Brophy would prefer it done in November. Says he spoke to Yeats about Gombeenism when he was up, and says Yeats thinks it needs a good deal of alteration, and that if he (Yeats) had the play with him he might have written to Brophy about it. Says there would be no harm in Brophy writing to Yeats in London about it. Written on the bare Abbey letterhead. The word “gombeenism” is scribbled on the left-hand margin next to the second paragraph about “the new play”.