17 MARCH 1967, Page 24

Inhospitable Shaws

Sir : Mrs Spurling is entitled to dislike Shaw as much as she pleases but when she is the critic of such a reputable periodical as the SPECTATOR she should know better than to underrate him. If there was no more to Shaw than an endless discus- sion group he would not be widely acclaimed as the greatest playwright since Shakespeare nor one of the most popular, repeat popular. Dialogue how- ever brilliant means little without plot, construction and a sense of theatre, all of which Shaw had in abundance.

If Brigid Brophy chooses to copy one of the least interesting aspects of Shaw that is her busi- ness. Shaw is no more to be blamed for his imita- tors than was Wagner. Mrs Spurting, of course, knows this perfectly well.