Jolly Jilly
Sir: I hasten to say that I am not writing to complain of the highly critical review Mr Kenneth Hurren gave my new play Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! in The Spectator. I disapprove of writers who deny the right of a critic to say exactly what he feels.
In fact, I personally cherish bad reviews, especially Mr Hurren's. He was kind enough to give my last play twobad reviews, thus helping to ensure a successful run.
However, I must spring to the defence of Jilly Cooper. Is it the critic's business to point a wrathful finger, and even name, someone who happens to disagree with their views? If so, one can visualise a whole new era in theatrical criticism: "I denounce my motherin-law Mrs Biggs and her sister Ethel for daring to like this piece." We may even find critics berating other critics for expression views different to their own.
Jilly Cooper is not a critic. She decided off her own bat to write a piece on how a farce is put together. This decision, I might add, was received with mixed feelings by the Management. However, the foolish girl happened to like the end result and said so. She reported accurately that it was received with bellows of laughter from an enthusiastic audience and ventured her personal opinion that the play would run a long time. Since the play broke two box office records on its pre-London tour and in its first week in London has played to the best business that any Brian Rix farce has achieved in twenty-one years, one is tempted to ask which spectator is right? Michael Pertwee 34 Aylestone Avenue, London NW6
Previous page
