OSBORNE ON TV • SIR,—Peter Forster is not alone in
his criticism of A Subject of Scandal and Concern, John Osborne's TV play; with one notable exception—Maurice Richard- son of the Observer—most TV critics savaged this provocative play on one ground or another.
But, if there were deficiencies in the production, many viewers of my acquaintance were deeply stirred
by the play, and found in it a message which seems
to have eluded the bulk of the critics, To these viewers the heart of the play appeared far less con- cerned with denial of free speech, atheism, or blasphemy, and much more with the difficulties that confront the non-conformist or free-thinker in any society, difficulties which to a lesser degree confront the man or woman out of step in the quasi-Christian Britain of today.
If the law no longer prosecutes today's Holyoakes the Church is quick to attempt suppression of the voice of protest or disbelief (Mrs. Margaret Knight has a remarkable story to tell of this) and Society, freely herded by mass-communications, is all too ready with supporting indignation. On the plane of human relationships, there is a plentitude of Mrs. Holyoakes ready with a range of emotional pressures to restore conformity.
I interpret the play's pay-off line from John Free- man as something of a challenge. By all means dis-
believe, says John Osborne, but be aware of Man's apparent helplessness; Man it seems cannot live by reason alone, and his atavistic craving for a deity—
preferably with sacramental blood—must be assu- aged. In an increasingly humanistic climate this is dangerous provocation to a solid Sunday night audience. How wise of the BBC—the profile of Lord Reith hardly faded from the screen—to protect its bed-and-Horlicks viewers by a late night transmis: sion, and thus avoid indigestible controversy. What a
pity that so many tetchy TV critics couldn't tel from their hunting down of Osborne, and instc encourage more of this kind of dramatic stimulus. Yours faithfully,
as ad ROBERT A. ADA
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