... By Horace Horsnell The Lisbon Story (Hippodrome) LIBRETTISTS who seek to break away from hampering convention in their writing of -'books for musical plays need all the encouragement they can get. They are a kind of perpetual pioneers, faced with pitfalls and problems that might well daunt genius itself. Few are as fortunate-- or for that' matter as successful-- as Da Ponte, who adapted the ...

... Reviewed by PHILIP PAGE 'THE LISBON STORY.-- A theatre's tradi tion can be a trifle dangerous. Almost ever since I have known the London Hippodrome it has been associated with light-hearted, amusing shows (though it started its career as a cinema, than which, in my opinion, no form of alleged entertainment is more depressing). The Lisbon Story, its latest production, is not in the least funny ...

... ORATORY THAT WILL LIVE FOR EVER -By Vernon Fane The Speeches of English Prime Ministers from Walpole to Churchill A Stirring Diary of Malta A Tale of Wartime France Complicated Deaths and Loves THERE is a rich treasury to be found in a book that I have only started to study this week, and that I hope to keep by me for years as a reference and refresher course in English oratory. ENGLAND IS ...

... : Reviewed by Trevor Allen WHEN I read a novel in these home-bound days I not only want a good story, I want to go places by proxy. Miss Katharine Brush's You Go Your Way (Cassell, 7s. 6d.) whisks me to the New York of cocktails, highballs, wisecracks, snappy dialogue, and divorce. Connie, you see, who wore a sleek black satin dress that loved her figure, had wilful ideas about marriage. ...

... Back Room Drama it Wr as a Question o/ i re mi tl Cake-- What a dan Oires to His Country antl What His Country Owes to Him By Barry Perowne WE get every imaginable war device submitted to us, the minister began, when his visitor was seated. Thou sands! Thousands! It's amazing, really, the number of people who think they've hit on the idea that will win the war! He paused for a moment, ...