Kenneth Tynan dies at 53

Press, 30 July 1980, Page 9

Kenneth Tynan dies at 53

NZPA London The controversial British critic and author, Kenneth Tynan, has died aged 53 in California, where he lived for much of the time m recent years because of his failing health. Tynan died at the weekend at St John’s Hospital, Santa Monica, after a long illness. He had pulmonary e ”^ y s:'K.tbita.h«« e if a writer, and their children, Matthew and Roxana, were both with’ him in California. Kenneth Tynan was a! Fleet Street theatre critic from 1951 to 1963 — the ; last nine years at the Observer,” where he was ulm critic from 1964 to 1966. I His departure from drama-

tic criticism was followed by 10 years at the National Theatre, six as literary manager and four as literary consultant. His love . of controversy was not confined to his critical and professional views of the theatre. His attitude was perhaps summed up in his list of recreations published every year in “Who’s Who’: Sex, eating.” To the theatre-going public, the Tynan link with sex and controversy was firmly established in 1965, when he ■ used a four-letter word on the 8.8. C. satirical television programme, “88C3.” In a discussion about censorship he used the word — and said he doubted if there

were any rational people “to ; whom it was particularly diabolical or revolting or 1 totally forbidden.” Members of Parliament and other protesters did not agree, and the 8.8. C. apologised for any offence caused. Five years later the members of Parliament were on the attack again. He devised an erotic nude revue, “Oh Calcutta,” which was condemned in a Commons motion bv John Biggs-Davison, a Tory, as “an insult to human dignity and a disgrace to London.” Some of Tynan’s former colleagues seemed to agree. The celebrated drama critic of the “New York Times.” Clive Barnes, said: “This is “the kind of show to give

pornography a bad name.” . In fact. “Oh Calcutta” ran for nearly a decade. The same success was not enjoyed by the 1976 “Carte Blanche,” described as “a sexual adventure in words and music.” . Kenneth Tynan found time to write a succession of serious books over 30 years, mainly about the theatre. Ironically his last venture was surrounded by controversy. He planned a biography of Laurence Olivier, but dropped the idea after Lord Olivier objected. Kenneth Tynan had been hailed as a theatrical prod- ■ igv during his time at Magdalen College, Oxford, where , he played many roles irti eluding Hamlet.