SCRATCH, St. James Theater, NYC, 1971

    Draft script (noted as "Rehearsal Draft") for the short-lived play SCRATCH, the last work by MacLeish, with Bob Dylan's songs as soundtrack. 92 leaves, with last page of text numbered 90. Mimeograph duplication, rectos only. Two annotations in holograph marker and pencil on title page, one being copy number "#30," and one annotation in holograph pencil marking dialogue within script. Based on Stephen Vincent Benet's 1936 short story "The Devil and Daniel Webster."
    The play only saw four performances at the St. James Theatre, NYC, from May 6, 1971 through May 8, 1971.
    Intended to feature Dylan's songs exclusively for the soundtrack (some of his classics from the 1960s, and four songs that had appeared on the 1970 album NEW MORNING, noted in script as "[DYLAN SONG #]" ). Dylan and MacLeish were ultimately unable to reconcile the dark tone of the play with the lighter tone of Dylan's songs and amicably parted ways. (www.abebooks.co.uk)

Yellow Studio Duplicating Service untitled wrapper.

Title page, dated 1970, noted as REHEARSAL SCRIPT, with credits for screenwriter MacLeish, story writer Stephen Vincent Benet, 'with the songs of Bob Dylan'

page 23, with a Dylan's song noted as soundtrack