... SIR,-- Mr. Ernest A. Dunn's letter demanding the abolition of the critics demonstrates admirably the unwillingness of people today to think for themselves. The critics are but ordinary theatre-goers who have rather more experience than the casual theatre-goer of what makes for popularity and a long run. They should, and usually do, have also the technical knowledge to say whether a play ...

... EXPLANATION CIR, The short answer to your correspondent's question as to why performances of current theatre productions broadcast by radio or by television are given only in front of invited audiences is that British Actors' Equity has insisted on the ban on paid admissions Managers would be delighted to be permitted to make a charge, as under the present arrangements they have to pay all ...

... STARS CIR.--Mr. Barrie Slaccy's letter in this column concerning the value of star personalities in the modern theatre was exemplary. He. unlike the highbrow coterie who seem to dominate our theatre today, and who know more about lonesco than they do about public reaction, realises that the primary function of Ihe theatre is not to teach but to entertain. And as R. B Marriott staled in an ...

... JESSIE MATTHEWS And wilh his charming reference to Miss Jessie Matthews, Mr. Stacey provides a splendid case to illustrate my point. Here is some one who is. in every sense, a star. She glitters; sh radiates profes sionalism. A little over two months ago, her arrival back in this country from America resulted in press publicity which would have delighted even a world star of the Brando or ...

... THE EMBASSY SIR, I am collecting information about lite history of the Embassy Theatre with a view to its possible use in a book. I should be deeply grateful if any of your readers could supply memories of the early days of the theatre or lend me any record*, playbills, and programmes which they have kept over the ycarv Yours fakhfnllv John Bennett central ^cnool of Speech and Dramn, limbassy ...

... TRINDER SIR, I was interested to read the si age notice of Jack and the Beanstalk, the excellent panto mime now playing to full houses at the Wimbledon Theatre. I hope you will allow me to com ment on the suggestion implicit in this criticism that Mr. Trinder didn't know his lines (when your critic saw the show) and that he hadn't taken the trouble to learn them. I sat with a packed matinee ...

... CHANGE IT! THIS letter is prompted by the report of the variety programme at Finsbury Park Empire last week, in The Stage (March 17). The most notable mention was afforded to The Edorics, described as a commendable presentation I remember this trio from the first Benny Hill series on BBC and looked forward to their contributions with as much interest as I did the stars. Why is the viewing ...

... OUTRAGE WITH the present degenera tion of acting standards on present-day television, it is a pleasure to see a less well- known actor showing a return to the standards which one has come to associate with the better stage and screen plays. That an actor of the calibre of Peter Bull should be rele gated to appearing on Schools Television seems to me to be little short of an outrage. A. J. ...

... MUSICALS TODAY SIR,-- May I, though a non professional, but very keen iheatrc-goer, in my young days especially, heartily endorse Jack Strachey's views on the so-called musical shows of today? I was recently at my focal Hippo drome and sat in a packed house watching a performance ol The Dancing Years, and some time earlier, in October last, The Merry Widow, also packed out If that isn't ...

... LUNCH-TIME SHOWS SIR,-- Your recent editorial sug gesting lunch-time performances of ballet, revue and operatic ex cerpts in London theatres, seemed such a welcome idea that I am amazed at the apparent lack of response. The prospect of watching a mid day live show in miniature, perhaps once a week, is a pleasurcable one, and I sincerely hope that some enterprising management will think ...

... SWEET NOISES SIR, Now that the Christmas season is upon us our old friends the sweet-paper rustlers seem to be back in full force, vieing for supremacy of status with the stumbling and noisily-apologetic late-comers. Suddenly to hear that disturbing crackle as the chocolate-box wrap ping is removed, followed by the agonisingly-long wait while the paper is so cautiously and so audibly unwound, ...

... 'Terrible Lack of Opportunities' SIR.--One of the must distressing aspects of the modern theatre is the terrible lack of opportunities for young professionals. In an era in which the accent is decidedly upon the young and in which we ate so preoccupied with the idylls of youth theatres and drama scnooTs, the number of young players given early prominence is .amazingly small. I have had ...