... 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 ...

... 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 ...

... CIVIC THEATRE SIR.--I read with interest the report of the speech made by Mr. Hugh Jenkins, assistant general secretary of Equity, at the conference or the Entertainments Arts Association on Local Authorities and the Entertainments Arts. As secretary of the Darlington Civic Theatre Company. I hould like to point out that we at Darling ton have had since 1958 the whole hearted support of our ...

... SONG CONTEST C1R. 1 see there is another con- -test coming off. This lime for Sona Writing. But the writer mast have had his song accepted by a pubUsher, and (he fwblishor must be a member of Uk Musk Publishers Association. Hero you have a typical example of British show business as H so sadly stands today. When do we have contest, where the man hi the street can show what songs be can write, ...

... PEGGY ASHCROFT THEATRE CIR, A great admirer of Dame Peggy Ashcroft, I was delighted to read that a Croydon theatre is to be named after her. Congratulations. Dame Peggy And congratulations, too, Croydon Corporation May this excellent idea be followed by Thorndike and Evans theatres. Faithfully. Mary Priestley Redmayne. 48, Lexham Gardens, W.8. ...

... FIRST NIGHTS CIR. I applaud Mr. Henry Shcrek's experiment in trying to get a representative audience to his next first night by throwing rhc box office open lo the public But his experiment will fail. In 1953 the late Jack de Leon did exactly the same thing with Down Came a Blackbird at the Savoy, and On the first night the same iegulars appeared in their same seats and behaved in the same ...

... SHOULD 'OKLAHOMA!' BE REVIVED? SIR,--I read with trepidation A.F.'s letter. He finds a revival of. Oklahoma! disturbing. I don't see why. There were millions of young persons who did not see the original show; I was too young to remember much of it; I will welcome its revival with interest, and so will many others It must be noted that Okla homa and Carousel are revived regularly off ...

... THE CHARMED CIRCLE I SEE by your front page that a new company are seeking new plays for Bromley Repertory plays by new, as well as established, play wrights. Good news, indeedl Then i read on a little further and come to the fatal paragraph, Only plays serrt through an accredited literary or theatre agent will be considered. My hopes fall. In my experience it is just as difficult to ...

... DIGS SJiK,-- witn reterence to the las paragraph, concerning thcatrica digs, of Mr. Howard Goorney' stimulating letter in your paper, am sure that many of your reader must already be aware that th Actors' Church Union has publishei for many years just such a list o digs as will perhaps supply man of the needs of Mr. Goorney an ...

... SIR, Your correspondent, A.F., of Putney, is disturbed thai Oklahoma is to be revived. But since this musical was presented fourteen years ago a now generation has grown up, whose members are familiar with the music of Oklahoma and know it as the show that revolutionised the post war musical, but were too young to see it. Because new techniques of pro duction have been developed in re cent ...