... PROOUCING-MANAGERS AND THE FEE QUESTION TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAGE Dear Sir.--Producing- managers are determined to eradicate the growing and objectionable prac tice by certain resident theatre managements who demand that the visiting produce-manager shall pay commission or fee to the agent employed by the theatre to secure its attractions. The visiting producer-manager is perfectly ...

... To the Editor of THE STAGE Dear Sir, Play-going which began in the 19th century leads me to two conclusions: (1) That the actor without Shake spearean experience is not fully developed; (2) That absolute absorption in Shakespeare pro duces unbalanced acting. Whin the Shakespeare Memo rial Theatre at Stratford-upon- Avon emerges from its chrysalis state and becomes an institution instead of ...

... CO-OP OR THEATRE? To the Editor of THE STAGE Dear Sir,-- May I echo the senti ments expressed by a correspond ent in a recent issue re the Co-operative Society and the theatre at Guildford?' This theatre has been closed for a good many years now and has been used as a shop and a store. In the early days of the war I observed vege tables being sold in the entrance hall, and to the best of my ...

... OLD VIC PRICES--AND A REPLY To the Editor of THE STAGE Dear Sir,--It is pathetic to see the expressions of disappointment on the faces of those who eager to pay tribute to the matchles Shakespeare and the magnificent interpretation of his genius at the New Theatre, find that the homage involves practical siderations well beyond thei suburban resources. Yet these arc the very peoF whose ...

... OLD VIC AND ITS NEW PRICES To the Editor of THE STAGE. Dear Sir,--First I should like to quote one or two passages from The Old Vic by Cicely Hamilton and Lilian Baylis. On the very first page we find: It (the Old Vic) stands for poetry and music offered at a price the man in the street can afford; a little runner on we come to: Art within the reach of the poorest is the first clause ...

... Dear Sir,--The principle of non-profit-making theatres cannot but be a good one for actors. If in practice it has not always worked out as it should, that is because it is early days yet. This is the first time we of the theatre have been regarded by the State as anything more than a fat source of revenue for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. It Tollows that mistakes are bound to be made. ...

... REP AND CIVIC THEATRE, OLDHAM EXPLAINS To the Editor of THE STAGE Dear Sir,--I read with interest your vigorous leader on profit, and, as administrator of a leading non-profit theatre. I should like to tell you where our excess of income over expenditure goes. We came into being seven years ago when Oldham's principal I xneaire went over to pictures, our object being solely the continua ...

... Dear Sir.--May I suggest that managerial anxiety regarding the activities of C.E.M.A. and municipal theatres is unnecessarily timorous. It does not at. all follow that such theatres will harm purely commercial theatres. On the contrary they may very well i help to create new audiences. It i is highly important, not only to all grades ol theatre people, but to the community, that the theatre ...

... To the Editor of The Stage Dear Sir, Amusing as 11 is 10 watch Mr. Maltby keeping the in terest in his play The Compleat Wangler, alive by a constant change of front, there is an in ference in your recent paragraph regarding this which I cannot allow to pass unchallenged. The offending words are: On one side we are told that the author himself considers post ponement advisable. But Mr. ...

... GEOFFREY WHITWORTH REPLIES To the Editor of THE STAGE. Dear Sir,--Your correspondent, Mr. Walter Paget, represents, I know, a considerable body of opinion which would rather see the Shakespeare Memorial National, Theatre content itself with a rehearsal-stage and railway trucks for provincial transport, than assume its primal obligation of establishing in the capital of the Empire a ...

... To the Editor of THE STAGE. Dear Sir,--In my early days as a variety artist the then custom among the pros, when one of their members suffered a set-back was to pass round the hat and often raise a quite substantial amount on the theory that he who gives e quickly gives twice. e The news this morning re the e bombing of a southern theatre n during a pantomime performance K gives many of us ...

... By FLOTSAM To the Editor, THE STAGE. Dear Sir,--Responding to your suggestion that I write a few lines about Malcolm McEachern. whose death last week terminated our long partnership, I do so gratefully, if only because your thoughtful gesture affords an opportunity of acknowledging the great many letters and telegram that have come to me from fellow-professionals during tn last few days. ...