A much more expert appreciation of Sir Alan Herbert's admirable
" Big Ben " than I am capable of appears (I believe) in another column. Here I only submit one comment. My enjoyment of the show was great, but it would have been greater if I could have heard the words of the songs and choruses better. Reference to the
libretto afterwards showed that I had missed something like half. It may have been partly the acoustics of the theatre, it may have been my own hardness of hearing and mental perception, but it was certainly in part lack of effort by both singer§ and chorus to make themselves clearly understood. This may be a common com- plaint, but it is a singularly .irritating one to the audience. Tribute must be paid to the fidelity of the House of Commons scenes, they are naturally attracting a considerable number of M.P.'s to the Adelphi. The Speaker has been there ; so have many Ministers ; so has the Sergeant-at-Arms, who observed his stage-double with interest ; and Mr. Churchill will have seen the show before Sunday. Incidentally, I should like to know where Sir Alan found the ideal name for his riverside tavern, " The Barge Aground "—ideal because the hostelry was kept by the King's bargemaster. It is no use asking Sir Alan
himself, for he can't remember where he first heard of such an inn. * * -* *
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