... IN A WELL-REASONED programme note to Dr. Angelus, which Pitlochry Festival introduced as its second producion of this season on April 22, a claim is made that a reassessment of James Bridie may reveal him as a dramatist who has something for the 1970's. The light in which it is sug gested this may develop is in the reaction of modern audiences to Bridie's revelation of the complex ...

... THE BUSH 'A NAVAL OCCASION' IF NOTHING else, an actor should be able to write effectively for other actors, and this Henry Woolf does with a true theatrical flourish in A Naval Occasion, at the Bush. In fact, one could say that Mr Woolf specialises in that very English art of the tirade, which is a bit unnerving at close quarters. A Naval Occasion is apparently about the English need to ...

... Personality of the Week PETER STEVENSON is one of the most gifted and interesting young directors to emerge in recent years, and his latest production, of Nightlight at the King's Head Theatre Club. Islington, shows to striking ad vantage his feeling for at mosphere and ability to build it up, his subtle and telling arran gement of movement and posi tion, his imaginative way with detail, which ...

... KING'S HEAD--'NIGHTLIGHT' IN KENNETH H. Brown's Nightlight, at the King's Head Theatre Club, Islington, old Rae, American-Italian, deserted by her husband, idle toper The Reb, and Ferri and E. W., married, if not happily at least for years on an even level of non-understanding, are liv ing their uneventful lives in an apartment house in New York city. They are poor and humdrum, but ...

... Hampstead 'Bodywork' A PLAY by Jennifer Phillips, Bodywork, opens at Hamp stead Theatre Club on May 22, with Snoo Wilson directing, designs by John Halle and cos tumes by Frances Haggett. The cast includes Polly Adams, Joanna Dunham, Robert Lloyd and Michael Scholes. Press: Chris Gower, 722 9224. ...

... ROBERT MORLEY IN 'GHOST ON TIPTOE' R.B. MARRIOTT REVIEWS OF COURSE, the part fits him like a glove. He helped to tailor it. Of course, he is at the centre of the play all the time. He helped to make it. As the leading character he is irascible, lovable, greedy, perversely generous, a father scorned by an unworthy son. Thus, once again, we have Robert Morley in a domestic comedy. It is A ...

... Hampstead A NtW venture in nampsieau called the Three Horse Shoes Company is launching lunch- time pub theatre, starting with Go On Jump by Brian Com port on May 6. Cast comprises David Bailie and Michael Graham Cox and performances will take place at 1.15 at the Three Horse Shoes pub in Heath Street, Hampstead. The following week sees Kissed with a Loving Seal by Eric Paice with John Dunn ...

... NEW CAST A NEW cast has taken over Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular at the Criterion, and some excellent performances are being given. As Sidney, the ambitious, mean, vulgar little businessman, Peter Blythe gets hold of the character body and soul, creat ing a portrait which is devas tating in its accuracy, and very funny indeed. Paul Eddington as the bored banker Ronald is also outs ...

... LONDON FESTIVAL BALLET LAST week's dance events produced nothing to equal Barry Moreland's Prodigal Son for originality. London Festival Ballet's production, first seen at the Coliseum on May 7, does full justice to a work which shows this young cnoreograpner in a new vein oi theatrical, almost showbiz, effectiveness. Set to Grant Hossack's orchestration of some Scott Joplin numbers, and ...

... BACH FESTIVAL FROM THE France of le grand siicle, this year's English Bach Festival moved on April 29 and 30 to fin du siecle Spain. An evening of dance, both classic and flamenco, at the Queen Elizabeth Hall was preceeded by one of zarzuela at the Royal Festival Hall. This anthology programme demonstrated one pos sible reason why this charming variety of musical theatre is seldon presented ...

... 'THE CASTAWAY' MOST of us probably know William Cowper as the author of John Gilpin and unless we have studied his work, very little else. Yet a one-man show around his life and work entitled The Castaway was dramatised and performed as part cf the Merton Festival at the Ken neth Black Memorial Hall by the actor. David Gooderson. on May 16. It was an unusual performance. Beginning with ...

... HAMPSTEAD 'BODYWORK' BODYWORK by Jennifer Phillips, first seen at the Leicester Phoenix in 1972, has turned up at Hampstead Theatre Club. The production is worthwhile only for performances by Polly Adams and Joanna Dunham. Bodywork is a vapid play about two les bians: Milly, vulnerable and cringing, Sarah, domineering and sadistic. The play begins with them on holiday in the ...