... MEETING CALL SIR. If I may be permitted to add a few final comments on the issue, I would like to endorse your editorial of January 9 and hope the squabbling will cease. If Derek Bond's first letter had been as moderately worded as his one last week, I would not have had cause to object ately or otherwise. I am glad that the record has been put straight, but I am afraid that it is outside ...

... EDDIE GRAY SIR. When pros chat about comedy, one name always provokes hilarious reminiscences concerning both his on- and off-stage activities that of the late Monsewer Eddie Gray. I'd be grateful if anyone who has a first-hand Eddie Gray story to tell would contact me. so that as many as possible could be caught between the covers of a small book duly accredited, of course. Such a ...

... New Faces- to be seen, not heard Dear Sir, Is it not time that the powers that be reminded the producers of New Faces of its name? It is surely not New Sounds but Faces. Who cares what the recording people think; surely its whole object is to discover talent for television and the cabaret clubs. The panel should, in my opinion, consist of someone like John Smith who employs acts in his clubs, ...

... QUESTION OF CONTENT SIR, It may cheer up the saddened Mr Birchall to know that I have spent some time considering, as advised, the question of content and have had thought about a play called The Right to Refuse to be per formed for dustmen, their wives, and other races freely mingling. It whould be sponsored by an elitist and religious group dedicated to instilling in the working classes an ...

... 'FEATHER-BEDDED' Sir, I read with interest your front page piece last week, with regard to the practise of 'feather-bedding' in the New York Theatre. When I was working at the ill Stratford-upon-Avon theatre In 1958. my opposite number from Stratford. Connecticut, came over, and I was deputed to show him the workings of the theatre. He asked me how many full-time stage crew we employed, and I ...

... SAGA RESUMES SIR After a summer recess from The Opera House Saga the silly season has been kicked-off with unerring timing just before the 1975 Edinburgh Festival. Can it be that Glasgow and Scottish Opera's laudable achieve ments with the Royal in Glasgow in a very short period of time; at comparatively low cost; and with a sense of dignified balance as to what is befitting in these harsh ...

... BE CONSIDERATE SIR Further to the two letters on autograph hunting, I feel that there is need for a little restraint and consideration on both sides, if I may say so. To my mind. Miss Vear and Mr Foster have each, in the heat of the moment, let off steam and shown the two extremes of the controversy. There is, of course, as always, the middle road where each has respect and consideration for ...

... WHOOPS AGAIN SIR In your issue of November 27 you refer to a recent production of Arrabal's The Car Cemetery as being the British English language premiere. I would like to point out that the Welsh Drama Company performed this play in Barbara Wright's English language transla tion at the Sherman Arena Theatre, Cardiff, in May 1974. The production was directed by Roland Jaquarello. Yours ...

... THE CAP FITS SIR, When I recently passed on to your readers the information given to me by the Equity staff regarding the considerable and encouraging progress made by the present Coun cil, I evidently fashioned a cap which fitted and has been eagerly worn by Messrs. Stephen Murray (that well- known Socialist). Nicholas Court ney, and belatedly Derek Bond. Is there anyone else, I wonder, whose ...

... JUMPING THE GUN ON THE GAYS SIR In one breath The Stage Comment claims that there no anti-gay discrimination in the theatre profession, and then in the next lists all the classic anti-gay stereotypes that, on its own admission. are rampant on stage and screen. Indeed, by asking gays to take their place in the queue, l ne Stage itself is putting down the 5 million gays in this country, ...

... DEMOCRACY IN ACTION SIR, The quick answer to CRAPE is that if the present Equity council is reactionary, it has nevertheless been put there by the votes of a large majority of the members and that, like it or not, is democracy. I do wish CRAPE and the WURPs would stop vapourising about democracy: it is the last thing they are really interested in Reactionary, too. is jusf a term of political ...

... PORTABLE THEATRES SIR. I am writing an account of the portable theatres operating in Bri tain from around the turn of the century. My great-great -grand father. George Allen, had. I believe, one of the first portables and the Allen family and later another relation Jack Dillon were very much involved in this type of theatre. I have managed to obtain some information from the few surviving ...