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New Zealand Listener, Volume 32, Issue 812, 18 February 1955, Page 5

Sir,-I have no patience with people who tell me that they have no patience with people who do not like what THEY like. Maybe in the eyes of Bruce Mason I am a Philistine, but I do not like The Lady's Not for Burning. Christopher Fry is better to read than to play, in my humble opinion, and rather obviously in the opinion of the general public. He has some glittering gems such as "Truth became for him the sum of sums and Death the long division," and "The least I can do is to fill the curled shell of the world with human deep-sea sound’-if my memory is correct, But the effect is rather that of a brooch of precious stones set in Britannia metal. The setting is unworthy of the gems. In the case of The Lady we had to listen to much that is verbose and tedious while waiting for the less frequent flashes of brilliants. At the risk of upsetting Mr. Mason’s vials of wrath after his lyrical rhapsody about bass viols and viola d'amore, I would say that the New Zealand Players’ production of The Lady suffered by comparison with the recent production of the lady in question by Wellington Repertory, Barbara Jefford was, on the opening night when I saw her, merely adequate and totally uninspiring. She certainly cannot hold a candle to Pamela Brown, of whom Mr, Mason may perhaps have heard. Keith Michell seemed to carry over his vivid portrayal of Hotspur into his reading of the Mendip role. There were times when in more reposeful mood he rose to real heights, and certain it was Thomas Mendip who carried the show-

such as it was. I came away neither happy nor bubbling, but rather with a sense of acute disappointment. Even Mr. Mason, who is so obviously prejudiced, found the play "dull at whiles," but somewhat inconsistently urges us to go and be happy and bubble, Of course, it must be understood that despite the "ballyhoo" the Stratford Players are not regarded as "tops" in England. The very name of Stratford has publicity value, and draws hordes of tourists-and this in turn draws guest stars like Gielgud and Olivier; but the regular company is not at all outstanding. Here, we are frequently carried away by the enthusiasm of advance publicity into believing that we are to see something "out of this world’ just because the much-publicised performers come here frdm the antipodes. I am afraid, too, that when I am weary and languid a surfeit of Fry would be as indigestible and unpalatable as the over-cooked counterpart from the butcher would be, Mr. Mason says that Fry’s verse is difficult-to give it that essential sheen, This actually bears out my contention that Fry may be read with enjoyment (if you like that sort of thing) but that he does not write good theatre. Unlike Mr. Mason I am quite tolerant and leave in peace those who choose to make a meal of an entrée, though I prefer the more satisfying diet of Roast and Two Veg. Man cannot live by Fry alone, and while Mr. Mason proudly lifts up his banner as a Fry fan, I, with perhaps more modesty but no less fervour, lift up mine as a Fry pan.

L. ASSHETON

HARBORD

(Lower Hutt).