The Press and Theatrical Performances.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1690, 21 April 1886, Page 2

The Press and Theatrical Performances.

Saturday's Evening Po«£ has th* following : — Yesterday we felt it our duty, in noticing the performance of th* Uickard's Company on the previous evening, to say that one item on th* programme was (inly fit for a tap-room. It was a most vulgar piece of buffoonery of the very lowest Music Hall type, and vre felt bound to condemn its presentation on the Wellington stage., ..Onr criticism has, we find, greatly excited the wrath of tho Company's managers,*! this morning Mr Liddy informed ui they could not afford to pay us to abuse their performance, and he accordingly ordered the withdrawal of all Messrs Rignold & Allison's advertisements.' Th* loss will certainly be theirs, not oars; and we may say at once that we absolutely refuse to recognise any connection between the advertisement ot t> performance in ordinary business course, and'our criticisms en such persorraauce. We do not feel the slightest obligation to theatrical companies fer their advertisements, and We owe 'th* advertisers no return in the way of favourable notice. Our duty in the matter of criticism is to the public, and we certainly will not .mislead our readers by praising performances which do not deserve it, or refrain, for the sake of any advertisements, from unhesitatingly condemning any performance which deserve condemnation, or which we consider vulgar or improper. The sooner this is understood the -better. We ar* always ready and willing to help companies which deserve kindly notice, but we will neither be bought nor muzzled in our criticisms by any advertising con. siderationa.