22 OCTOBER 1965, Page 12

Chekhov and Surrey

SIR,—It would be difficult to argue with Hilary Spurling's assessment of Surrey's suburban middle- class. But its existence must not be denied: it turned out in force to see Ivanov at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre. Only after its wholehearted recep- tion in Guildford did Ivanov graduate to the Phoenix.

Is it presumptuous for a petrifying Surrey sub urbanite to quarrel with Hilary Spurling's description of Ivanov as great?

C. A. BOSSET

61 Portsmouth Road, Guildford, Surrey