... CIR. As a regular visitor to the Shakesipcarc Memorial Theatre at Stratford-on-Avon, 1 was delighted to welcome the company to their new home at the Aldwych in their imaginative production of The Duchess of Malfi. It was. in deed, value for the money, which is more than I can say for the pro gramme. For the price of one shilling, I was given a sixteen-page publica tion, which provided no ...

... Letters to the Editor SIR--I was interested to read John McCarthy's letter last week regarding the Old Vic series and suggesting that critics like Levin, Marriott, Shulman, Taylor and Tynan should express their opinions to help Lew Grade make up his mind about screening them. It is to be noted that four out of five of those named by McCarthy were theatre critics who prob ably seldom see ...

... PROGRAMMES CIR, In his interesting articl Mermaid Sets an Example, you contributor Mr. Peter Robert rightly praises a programme whit- is a delight to the hand and th eye. May I also record my appre ciation of the presentation and con tent of the Mermaid programme The editorial notes arc excellent and the fact that certain Mermaii advertisers go to some trouble t ...

... SIR,-- So Mr. Henry Sherek is so .sick of the people on the regular first night lists that he in tends to let anyone buy seats on a first come, first served basis. All well and good. But has be forgotten that the managers themselves have encouraged the system they alone put into operation, and which he now condemns In any oase. does Mr. Sherek really believe his new plan will work? The ...

... TOO FEW WOMEN CIR.-- Re John Henderson's talk ai Dundee, that good, whole some plays are being written but not accepted. One reason is, thai though women are the best supporters of television and stage plays, there are too few women reading and choos ing plays on both mediums. Yours sincerely. Kate Lindsay. ii. narroo urive, Birkdale. Southport. ...

... THE AUTHOR WRITES. . . SIR, You may have taken the time and [rouble 10 see and review a play called We're Just Not Practical. at the Theatre Royal, E.15, on Monday night, the 23rd of January, which (discredits me as author It is important (hat the following facts be known I was forbidden by the pro ducer to attend ihe fmal two weeks of rchearsail. During my absence the play was cut, changed, ...

... HONOURING SHAKESPEARE SIR,--In April 1964 we are to celebrate the quater-centenary of the birth of William Shakespeare. Here, surely, will be an occasion demanding imagination, courage and faith, for we must not only look back in wonder at the genius of Shakespeare, but we must also give more to, and ask more of the theatre of our own time. Let us make 1%4 a British Theatre Year, and begin ...

... A COMMENT FROM THE BOX OFFICE DEAR SIR,--I would like to comment on a letter recently printed in the stage, regarding the impoliteness of box-office staff. As an experienced member ot the Box Office Profession, and it has by no means any crazy ways, I would suggest that, before Miss Nestle makes any allegations of this kind, she should look into the matter deeply. The fact that the box ...

... My Letters Ignored SIR,-- I was extremely interested to read your comments regarding the shortage of television directors and the rubbish that sometimes passes for a production on the small screen (July 14 issue). One would have thought that the television companies would have done their best to seek out the best of British talent from the theatre and films and train them for the highly ...

... PROGRAMMES SIR, I was most interested in your leading article on the subect of attractive and informative programmes. Recently 1 visited the Haymarket Theatre to see Ross and was charged a shilling for a leaflet con- loining a few inadequate notes on the career of Sir Alec Guincss. When I enquired the reason for this charge of a shilling (which is creeping into too many London theatres) I ...

... 'OUR BOYS' SIR.--Referring to Mr. Dick Richards' enquiry in your issue of even date. The play Our Boys by H. J. Byron, who died in 1884 at the early age of 49. was presented at the Vaudeville Theatre on January 16 1875 and ran until April 18 1879 v/ith David James as Perkyn Middlewkk. David James died in 1893 aged 56. Our Boys was the first play to achieve over five hundred continu ous ...

... CORNY CIR, -Why arc certain lines and situations in plays, as well as numbers in musicals, classed as corny? What is the origin of this word, which has a somewhat derogatory inference, being so often used to dismiss aspects of theatrical art in an unflattering manner? Is there any association between this term and the name of Corney Grain, the entertainer who died in the Nineties? Yours ...