THE LITTLE THEATRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20599, 25 June 1930, Page 14

THE LITTLE THEATRE.

Sir, —Tho fact that " The Importance of Being Earnest " lias been played in Auckland beforo seems to annoy your correspondent, "Stallitc." That the Little Theatre Society has not lived up to his idea of a repertory theatre, and has failed to "enrage" and "irritate" him is certainly regrettable and will, no doubt, causo a considerable falling off in attendance when tho society presents t his brilliant play in tho near future. Modern science has furnished another type of entertainment, whereby one may, cheaply and frequently, bo both "enraged and irritated;" why then expect tho repertory movement to supply these apparently necessary emotions? " Stallito " says " Tho Littlo Theatre, remembering tho importance of being earnest, seems to have forgotten tho importance of being repertory." In this connection a few interesting facts may not bo. out of place. Tho Birmingham Repertory Theatre, among whoso founders aro to bo found such famous names as Barry Jackson and John Drinkwater, accepted leaders of tho repertory movement, first produced " The Importance of Being Earnest " on March 15, 1913, reviving this great work on nine different occasions during tho following ten years, and giving in all G5 performances, ;i total exceeded by but four of the 205 plays presented. On looking over tho records of the Birmingham Society wo find that Mr. Barry Jackson, the primo mover in repertory, himself produced one of tho later revivals of I his " non-repertory " play. " The Cassilis Engagement," another recent choice of the local society, was also revived nine times in the same period with 95 performances. Again, 1 would remind " Stallitc " that there is another generation beside that to which ho belongs (since we must take it that ho is a critic, of 1904), a generation which holds, and is entitled to, an appreciation of the great authors, and I am tempted respectfully to remind him that his selfish desire for an irritant can bo found elsewhere than in the repertory theatre. Lastly, [ challenge " Stallitc " to emerge from tho shelter of his nrru-de-plume and give us his interpretation of the word " repertory." F. E. MCCalixm.