Between Two Stools

New Zealand Listener, Volume 26, Issue 670, 9 May 1952, Page 8

Between Two Stools

UNEDIN'’S critics for April-Arthur Manning, Barbara Manton = and Christopher Johnson (chaired by Philip Smithells)--gathered at the microphone to discuss the local production of Romeo and Juliet and the collected edition of Somerset Maugham’s short _ stories. There seemed little reason for this odd and unrelated mixture on the one Pprogramme; still less reason for calling it a "discussion," the value of which lies in the effect it can give of lively conversation, preferably argumentative, overpers a 2 es Se a ee et RO eae Be

heard by the listener. In this case, each critic came forward in turn with his collection of criticism which he laid before us rather in the manner of a doorstep hawker. There was, admittedly, very brief discussion after each speaker had said his say, but it contributed little either in extension or in contradiction of the main speaker’s contentions. Even Christopher Johnson’s excellent review of Maugham, pin-pointing so exactly the vague dissatisfaction this author inspires im one, could not redeem this programme which lacked the structure and symmetry of a prepared talk, yet failed to achieve the liveliness of real discussion.