28 SEPTEMBER 1974, Page 24

Will Waspe

On a recent visit to Hollywood, rogueish Ulsterman and film critic Alexander Walker fell among, Mae West at some festive occasion or other. Appreciatively fingering his biceps, the immortal sex symbol extended the well-worn invitation to come up and see her some time, an invitation gratefully accepted by Walker if for no other reason than in the interests of scientific and cinematic research. Having emerged in one piece, he spent the next day in the company of Christopher Isherwood. "I was glad of the dress rehearsal," Walker was later heard to remark. What on earth can he have meant?

False hopes

The reason Jonathan Miller has given for retiring from the race (towards or away from?) for the post of Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre is that he would undoubtedly get it and thereby do his friend Stuart Burge out of a much-needed job. Admirably selfless sentiments, no doubt, but a dire body blow for those who fondly hoped that Dr Miller.would be so busy keeping all those Sloane Square dissidents in some sort of order (or administration as this is sometimes laughingly known) that 'he would have no time left for mucking about with, sorry, I mean directing, other people's plays.'