"MANY WATERS"

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 72, 26 March 1934, Page 8

"MANY WATERS"

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l regret to cross swords with your dramatic critic -who unjustifiably, in my opinion, took exception to a scene in ".Many Waters," the play produced last week by the Wellington Repertory Society, but I do so because there is a danger that the society may be influenced towards pleasing critics and not the large number' of Wellington people who wish to encourage the production of plays which conform to the highest artistic standards. . . .Your critic infers that he wishes to be "amused and entertained," and does not object to something "real ... in its faithful transcripts, of lite," so long ap.parently as these, realities. are pleasant. Art, however, is not confined by such narrow bounds. Art is the embodiment of experience—pleasant or, otherwise—and surely one of its chief aims is to instruct, to enlighten, and to broaden our understanding of: humanity in all its phases and activities. Its scope is both material and spiritual, and it should not be distorted by the unrealities of romanticism. "No doubt air plays which deal sincerely with humanity must wound the monstrous conceit which it is the business of romance to flatter," writes Mr. Bernard Shaw in his preface to "Plays Unpleasant." Surely:this answers your critic's opinion that the Repertory Society should "eschew any play with a revelation ana a scene in it like scene- iv of act 2 of 'Many Waters.'-" The scene is quite a. possible culmination to the events that preceded it. Proximity is such a tremendous factor in human relationships that it is a logical sequence of events that a man and gii\ thrown together should first unconsciously and then in spite of themselves fall in love with each other. The consequences may be deplored, they may 'be tragic, as-they were in the play, but they are human experience. "The., bone taint in the meat" (your critic's., phrase) is. not the playwright's imagination, but a reality of life. If the society is merely going to "entertain and amuse," it will quickly degenerate, falling far short of the standards set by the English repertory societies, and Wellington will be deprived of the opportunity of seeing presentations of the works' of illustrious playwrights past and present. : \. ..' Shaw, Galsworthy, O'Casey. Strindberg, Ibsen, Van Druten, Elmer Rice? Eugene O'Neil, to mention a few at random, did not always draw their materials. from pleasant fields, but their works are art none the less. One hopes, however, that the themes which they have chosen will soon sweep away the same unjustifiable prejudice that once: existed against the plots of Wagner's operas.—l am, etc., FREDA FORDE.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In the interest of the development of the repertory movement in New Zealand may I ask i£ you would be good enough to open your columns to a short controversy on its scope and purpose. In your critic's most excellent' notice of "Many Waters" 'last. Thursday he incidentally suggested -thai; "the Wellington Repertory Society should' ' any play with a' revelation and; a scene in it like,scene: iv o£ act 2J' .." . -•' •■-. j-■ ~•.-'■ The scene referred to starkly but most deftly shows the dreadful aftermath i)i an incident which is unfortunately only too conunon in the slackness of modern flatlife in big cities which I personally'know. The author, to my mind, has set out to dramatise this slackness and to trenchantly expose the consequences.": I know your critic to be one of the ;best:inf6rmed authorities at this end of the world, and it would be interesting arid.profitable to the ten thousand followers ofithe repertory movement in Wellington district to : read' a discussion on the subject. - - Personally I consider that if any nnsavoury- true-to-life incidents are to be eschewed by the repertory societies we are never to see some of the best works' of Shakespeare.. Brieux,\ Moliere, Strindberg, Bjornson,' Ibsen, Shaw, Pirandello, arid other equally great playwrights who have deftly interwoven spine 'of the; problems of life' through the fabric: of their most interesting and entertaining plays. '' For instance, those interested in .'our present university discussion might, profit, by; the reading of Ibsen's "Rosmersholm," as any youthful adult should profit by the evil exposed and the lesson taught, and so courageously acted by Miss Horton iv '■Many Waters."—l am, etc., ■ ; . LEO DU CHATEAU, -, : _■'■■• Director (pro* tern), Wellington Repertory • Theatre.