“MR PIM PASSES BY”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26916, 30 October 1948, Page 8

“MR PIM PASSES BY”

Sir—l can foresee the time coiping when amateur dramatic societies will Complete the fuff circle «d return to the conditions of Shakepeare s theatre. The only distinction will be that, whereas in those days all female roles were played hv youths. w 6 can expect that in the future all male roles will be pl ?hf d n nlv women. This really seems to be the only solution if the theatre is to live even m omadulated form* for I cannot imagine that * the type of criticism you PUbhsb of male acting in this city is in the beat interests of amateur drama . Repertory societies in general have a great need of actors, as distinct front actresses but I fail to see why any selfrespecting man should lay himself open to such remarks as your critic seems to Ihink fitting. A little more consideranon fnr the amateur who, after aU» maxes, no pretence to greatness, would go a lohg P way towards encouraging more men to devote their talents to the stage, and ipso facto would largely eliminate unavoidable miscasting which your reporter is so quick to criticise. Uniortunatelj ha is not so quick to recognise that he himself might be considered indirectly responsible 1 for the dearth of actors to this city. As for the ladies, w ~ thev seem better able to taxe u. and maybe before long will have to take trousers too.-I am, Watson