PUBLIC OPINION

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 7, 23 January 1937, Page 4

PUBLIC OPINION

"EARLY DOORS".

Light Opera (To tha Editor) Sir, — "Gallery Critic's" criticism of the J. C. Wiliamson preseutation oi' Oilbert and Suilivan on their "soncalled country tours" hardly seems sounc|. ' 'Gallery Fan" may have been brouglxt" up in the Savoy tradition, and that may account for his oyerlooking the sim -'e book-keeping of these country tours Tha position is that "Gallery Fan" ex pects first-olass entertainment, but at wha-t he would call a reasonable prxce, J.C.W., I am sure, would bo the first to want to know how the two can be reconciled. I commend the firm's en-tei-prise. And they have had plenty of public encouragement to make these country tours. This is where "Gallery Fan" goes nll astray. He. would expect a travelling company to* present Wagner to us oa the scalo of the Bayreuth festivals. Tf he cannot forgive the limitations of travelling companies, can he not at laast try to understand them? That, I am sure, would tempeg his judge« lnenf, As for his saying that he has seen ajnateur performanees that would put the J.C.W. company to shamej I don't believo it». — Yours, et.c., "PENZANCE " Hastings, January 23, 1937. (To th9 Editor) 9 Sir, — Your correspondent "Gallery v-ritio's" evident assnmption that "Anlftc Time" is one of the Gilbert and Suilivan oper^s rather discounts any criticism he may utter of the production. H© seems to have very little to complain about — delays between actg, depleted chorus- and gawky extras— hardly worth writing to the papar about. - I would go much further and state definitelv that Ivan Menzies was unsuited for the part of Schubert and that generally the show wqs of a lower grade than first-class. However. having attended the theatre for entertainment and not as a critic, I came away feeling that I had enjoyed a bright evening. With all the deficienoies, real and imagineJ, it must be conceded that Mr. Menziv)S aud his company gave ns a bright, tuneful show unmarred by any surli glaring faults as to make ±he ovening irrxtating .to the audience. When one eonsiders the gi'eat txpense that would be involved in engagijxg an enthely first-gracje company of performers for these tourg? one should be grateful to Williamson's for what they attempted. After all, we are not under any form of compulsion about going to these shows but I always attend when I can affgrd to. For years 1 have been a critic of Williqnxson companies, hut I shall continue to tolerate them because I think they qre tolerable

— slours, etc.,

Hastings, January 22. 1937,