Of raw nerves
Sir: I seem to have touched your theatrical critic, Mr Kenneth Hurren, on a raw nerve some two years ago when I wrote to The Spectator welcoming his bad review of my play Don't .Just Lie There, Say Something! as a sure passport to its ultimate success but mildly complained of his strangely unethical behaviour in publicly criticising another newspaper columnist for daring to say she liked the piece.
In another most welcome bad review of my latest effort Birds of Paradise (Spectator, June 29) Mr Hurren obliquely refers to this, returns to his criticism of Don't Just Lie There. . . and then — something which must be unique in the annals of theatrical criticism — starts to attack my new play A Bit Between The Teeth before it has even been shown. It opens at the Cambridge Theatre, London, on September 12. May I ask for the courtesy of a little space in your columns to comment on this?
Since Mr Hun-en has returned to his criticism of my "paralysing witlessness" in Don't Just Lie There. . . I think I can claim that my case for welcoming his bad review was proved by the fact that the play ran for eighteen months in London, has been performed in a number of foreign countries including Australia and Spain (where it will run for two years), was made into a film and spawned a networked television series. I would be churlish indeed not to feel grateful for the help he gave me there.
A slightly different situation arises when a critic apparently signals his intention of castigating' a piece he has not yet seen. I think the Management of the play concerned would be fully justified in accusing Mr Hurren of some personal bias and thus refuse to invite him to make a criticism. However, such is my faith in Mr Flurren's powers that I promise to insure he is invited. Why, after all, should I deny myself the undoubted benefit of Mr Hurren's bad review or, for that matter, the pleasure of giving him yet another thoroughly unenjoyable evening? Michael Pert wee 34 Aylestone Avenue, London NW6
Previous page
