Westminster Corridors
The merest inquiry in the chop houses, the ale house, aye and in the bawdy houses of England will swiftly evince the truth that Puzzle is a great lover of the vocal art. True this has on occasion led him into some difficulties from those who do not understand that his lively nature necessitates his joining in performances, especially after a good spot of claret. On one occasion he was greatly upbraided by some dismal Scotch Presbyterians when he decided to assist the quite inadequate rabble who made up an amateur chorus of Lucia di Lammermoor in one of their gloomy 'northern citadels.
But I digress. The other evening Puzzle elected to attend a performance of the Mozart opera Cosi fan Tutute by the English National Opera. It is a great favourite of Puzzle's seeing that it gives romantic passion a damn good knock. Indeed Puzzle identifies greatly with Don Alfonso the splended old roue who puts firmly in the place those epicene tenors who get themselves killed in the last act, or the absurdly stupid sopranos who kill themselves rather than tumble with the baritone. With the possible exception of Verdi's Falstaff there is no character in all opera who warms the cockles of the Puzzle heart to greater effect.
It was with some expectation, therefore that Puzzle arrived at the splendid old Coliseum Theatre only to find some consternation in the House. The performance could not be given in costume but only in concert form principally, indeed solely, due to trade union action of an unofficial variety. The members or some of them, from the NATTKE union, which had agreed to meet the management (after a general meeting of its members at some date after the performance), staged lightning strike; thereby unstaging Cosi Fan Tutte.
It was monstrous act replete with selfishness, for the artists, many of whom take home less pay than the groundhogs who move the scenery, had worked hard at the production. To their credit the artists triumphed but what is to be done about such people with such little regard for their more artisitically endowed fellow.workers?
It is by no means the first, and probably not the last, time, that scene-shifters and the like, have held the enterprise to ransom. It was done just before a tour in Germany. Their confreres of like villainous mind at the BBC influenced
• heavily the attempt to record the complete Ring cycle which is one ot the major triumphs of post-war opera. What is more, the action taken the other evening was in spite of the union official warning the unofficial strikers that they were in breach of contract.
Now Puzzle is not against the unions. Indeed it could be said that in this respect he is a little to the left of many of the chaps — worthy rascally figures thought they may be — who write for this Journal. But he still says that it is high time some of the fellows who head the large unions put pressure to bear upon those barbarians who appear to care little for the arts they serve — even in a menial capacity.
Does Mr Len Murray approve of the fact that in one of our major opera houses the deputy musical director, has been paid less than most of the scene-shifters? When the cry goes up on the need for decent differentials what will he have to say about this?
Whilst Puzzle could not readily contemplate digging in the bowels of the earth for the amount paid to miners, his fertile imagination does extend far enough to conceive a day when he 'could shift scenery around, waiting between acts in a convenient. hostelry, and being paid exorbitant sums for his pains.
Puzzle says to the unions officials that they will be taken more seriously when they deplore such wildcat nonsense. Puzzle demands action.
Tom Puzzle
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