... It goes further, James O'Toole JAMES OTOOLE'S comment on well-groomed commercial Mums, prompts me to say this is only one example of the way Commercials fall down on realism. Detergent spots are notorious for this especially when it comes to kitchens. They ALL imply that EVERY kitchen is large, light and full of modern equipment, including, of course, a washing wchine. Why aren't some of these ...

... AMERICANS MAR METHOD AND IT'S NOT FAIR I DO not envy Michael Joseph his effort to explain and establish in this country a style of acting which has had so much nonsense written about it. Americans coined the word method for the Stanislavsky System, but their interpretation of it is marred by mannerisms which have provided critics, satirists and frightened classical actors with endless copy. ...

... MISQUOTED JtfORMAN COLLINS was misquoted by Variety about foreign use payments for writers and actors on British-produced telefilm series sold abroad. In his speech, at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Global TV forum, he said: We are in the process of reaching an agreement with but he did not say that any contracts were about to be signed.--Eric Croston, Public Relations Editor, ATV. ...

... REGULATED ENTRY SIR. The recent correspondence in your columns in connection with the employment of amateurs seems to have stimulated interest in the problems of regulating entry into the profession. I am submitting a scheme on this subject to this year's A.G.M, of Actor's Equity. I would be pleased to discuss this scheme with any Equity member at a meeting called for this purpose on Monday ...

... CRITICS SIR, In accusing me of exag gerating the booing at the first night of The More the Merrier Mr. Michael Thornton is himself guilty of exaggeration. I did not imply that the play was received with general booing. What I wrote was It sounded almost like treason for booing to break through the final applause at an Anna Neagle first night, which is quite a different thing. I reported ...

... SIR. I found your leading article on the National Theatre both interesting and to the point. But a very important point, I think, was not made. This is to be a Natiinal Theatre for all our finest and most significant drama not for Shakespeare alone. For this reason, every effort should be made to see that the theatre is not identified in the public mind with Shakespeare. Perhaps it would be a ...

... 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 ...

... Newman looks at that drama 'problem child' SIR--Last week Margaret Cowan had a lot to say about scripts, blueprints, television plays and David Osborn's violent protest against ABC-TV's alleged distortion of his play Three On A Gas Ring. Spot letter It was a disturbing piece, mainly because it seemed to be full of vague and uneasy specula tions that the writer was being abused at the ...

... Let's have a union for the choreographer SIR,--I would like to stress the importance of the choreographer in Television Today. He is, in fact, almost an Assistant Producer, and many a spectacular show depends a great deal on the musical production to be successful. But there is no organisa tion or union for Choreo graphers. either for television or stage work, and they very often come out ...

... £ IS IT A SORDID SUBJECT? I READ with interest the remarks on British writers quoted by Samuel Marx and repeated by Margaret Cowan recently. The writer who said he was not interested unless he got enough money had the merit, at least, of being honest about it most writers are writing for the money. How many of them would continue writing if they won a large fortune on the pools? There is ...

... JOHN MORTIMER is to be guest J of honour at the Arts Theatre Club supper on March 7 at 8.IJ. Bernard l,evin wifl he ibe eue on April 4. ...

... WALLACE NICHOLS OIR,-- Reading a paragraph about J a Verse Speaking Festival, I wonder once more why we hear so little these days from one of the greatest living authorities on the speaking of verse. Mr. Wallace Nichols. Between the wars. Mr. Nichols was much concerned with Shake spearean productions in London, and with tbe Annual English Festival of Spoken Poetry, of which be was for some ...