

This is James Roose-Evans 1981 stage adaptation of American Helene Hanff’s 1970 novel 84 CHARING CROSS ROAD.
It tells the story, theatrically, of the twenty year correspondence between Helene Hanff, struggling young writer living in New York and Frank Doel, the manager of Marks and Co, an antiquarian bookshop in London. The correspondence only ended upon the death of Doel as a result of peritonitis after a burst appendix.
This is a feel good, very warm night (or matinee) at the theatre. It’s about a wonderful pen friendship between two deep people with an abiding appreciation for world literature.
The sad fact was that Helene was planning for many years to fly to London and meet her pen friend and explore the book store in person but never got around it. Continue reading 84 Charing Cross Road : A Pen friendship for the ages