W i l l
Waspe
Despite the scorn which this column poured a month ago over the weird reports that the commercial theatre was in a critical condition from which it could only be rescued by an injection of taxpayers' money, I learn that plans really are seriously afoot actually to subsidise commercial showmen from the public purse. Not surprisingly, however, there is a distinct effort being made to obscure precisely what is happening. The money is going to be handed out to successfully importunate impresarios by an organisation called the Theatre Investment Fund which is in course of being set up and which has a nice money-making ring to it and no obvious connotations of being state-supported to the tune of a quarter of a million. And although it is directly associated with the Arts Council, it will operate from entirely separate premises — which have now been taken, temporarily at least, in Maiden Lane. It is almost unnecessary to mention that the chairman of the T1F is the Lord Goodman.
.Twosomes
Speaking of the Blessed Arnold, I notice that he is not allowing his friendship with the former Arts Minister, Jennie Lee, to languish now that the lady's party is back in office. They made a striking pair last week when he escorted the Baroness to the premiere of the revival of Eden End at the Old Vic and out to supper later.
The Priestley revival was a sentimental occasion generally, what with the venerable and portly old gentleman himself, in characteristic flat fedora, greeting first-nighters on the front steps and being introduced from the stage later. by Lord Olivier. Nothing about it was quite so touching, though, Waspe thought, as the sight of Peter Hall in the foyer greeting Peter Shaffer with a kiss on the cheek.
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