OPERATIC "CRITICISM" CRITICISED.

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 34, 7 May 1881, Page 366

OPERATIC "CRITICISM" CRITICISED.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— There are those of my profession who affect to ignore the newspapers and scoff at their influence in matters theatrical. lam not one of them. I have unfortunately too good reason to think differently. Public entertainers depend much upon favourable criticism for their success, and the best efforts of an artiste may be— frequently are —of no avail against vicious, venial, or ignorant adverse criticism. Referring to the Herald's criticism of " Pinafore," as performed by Simonsen's company, I find errors too gross to be passed over in silence. The sapient critic says *' Pinafore " was performed in Auckland by a " company of amateurs." This is not true. Ajid, further, that many of those amateurs are now members of Mr. Simonsen's company. How can Mr. Kinsella tell such a startling untruth unblushingly ? The only principal members of Mr. Simonsen's company who have previously appeared in Auckland in " Pinafore " are Mr. J. A. Cram and myself. Now, it may be a source of amusement to Mr. Kinsella to call us amateurs, and, so far as Auckland is concerned — where this gentleman is well known, and where his opinions are duly estimated at their real value — the matter is of little or no moment. But Mr. Kinsella's lucubrations are read throughout the Australasian Colonies, and where the individual is unknown the " criticism " is invested with an importance which is very injurious to the criticised. Thus Mr. Kinsella succeeded, nearly two years ago, in ruining the business of the Auckland "Pinafore" Company in Southern cities by heralding us a troupe of " amateurs " a company comprised mainly of professional people. I have now to labour to pay liabilities all of which would have been liquidated at the time had. not Mr. Kinsella stigmatised me and my company in the eyes of the public as a troupe of "amateurs." Not satisfied with injuring me thus far, Mr. Kinsella still pursues me with his impudent patronage— patting me on the back, so to speak, as an "amateur" member of Mr. Simonsen's company. This is too much. Patience has its limits. The patience even of a " strolling player " is limited, and I cannot be expected to sit still for ever and quietly submit to injury (pecuniary and professional) and insult from the pen of a possibly well-meaning but excessively ignorant and wooden-headed reporter, Tom Riccardi.