PRESS CRITICISMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1922, Page 7

PRESS CRITICISMS.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—ls it not time that the citizens of New Plymouth were given a fair and true Press criticism of the various entertainments which are frequently held in the town? I am, in this instance, referring to the performance given by the New Zealand “Diggers” at the Empire Theatre on Monday, the 24th inst. The erttieiMn in the Press of these entertainers gave one the impression that to see them wquld be to enjoy a pleasant evening’s entertainment; when, in reality, such was far frouu being the case. This is not my personal opinion only, but the opinion of a vast majority who also attended Monday night's performance. Press criticisms of social entertainments should, to a great extent, be a true guidi to the entertainment criticised, for, in many cases in- the larger cities, where a company perfonms for several evenings, patrons of the theatre, etc., do not attend until they nave read the Press criticisms; consequently they have no wish to be disappointed, as so often happens, as I have never yet read in the New Zealand Press a bad criticism of an entertainment, but I have seen many which are criticised as good, but were anything but such. —I am, etc., “THEATREGOER.” [There were several features of the entertainment the merit of which secured The Diggers freedom from complete condemnation, but our critic conveyed the impression that liis enthusiasm had not been deeply roused. It was made clear that the company was not as strong as the original Diggers, and that the humorous element which one looks for in this class of entertainment was not strongly developed. The best thing said of the show in the report was that “a crowded house expressed in generous applause appreciation of a varied programme.” This is true, but it did not necessarily denote appreciation of the programme on our part.—Ed.]