To the Editor of the "Nonri-Cutna Datuy News"
Sin—May J thank you, not only for myself, but on behalf of many friends, who witnessed the sordid performance of "Room for Two," for your article im today's paper, entitled "A Recent Play"?
Not only was the play boring, but extremely nauseating, and we of the British Community are grateful to the Editor of our leading newspaper. for so aptly voleing the opinions of the majority.
Ax Enousnwosan.
Shanghai, Apr. 25.
The Production Defended To the Editor of the "Nonru-Cutxa Darty News"
Sm—While the article in the "North-China Daily News" criticising the choice of "Room For Two" as a suitable play for presentation Shanghai has some points of truth in it, much of what was written seemed Uitle more than a direct attack on the AD.C—in a column headed "Impartial..."—in which the writer: showed that he is by no means in close touch with the way in which amateur theatre clubs are run If he #s one of the lovers of the Iegitimate theatre to whom he refers. the writer of this article is possibly a member of the A.DC. It this is £0, It would, I imagine, be better for him to passion his candid opinions this club through its Internal channel than for the club to be pilloried in. the press, where an Adequate reply might not be easy.
Tt would appear that as a club, the A.D.C. are providing plays for their members rather than primarily for the Shanghai public. If those presenting plays may not judge popularity by length of run and box office returns. how else can they do so? A theatre club, like any profes sional company, must watch box office returns, for on receipts depend the very existence of the club. In Shanghai the A.D.C. would seem certain of good booking by a number of people who make a practice of seeing every play presented by the club. irrespective of the type of play or the names on the bill, so that the likelihood of members refusing to see the club productions would not arise.
"Again, 1 would defend the amateur talent in Shanghai where if difficulty found in casting a play, it is more probably due to the host of social Altractions than to a lack of talent T would also mention. the. inability your dramatic reporter "not critic, please) to find fault with even the smallest part. player in almost all ADE. productions. Mis express sions. frequently cot a long, ong trail of Itis a pity article does not name one of the "rich reassures he would like revived. It is enough 10 say that the choice of a play by Shakespeare. Ibsen. Tehekov or authors of similar quality would receive the criticism that amateurs could not sustain such a standard of Seting. No club could afford te Produce plays of "real theatre" if an adverse booking might be the result, addition to the seats that are given away as a cumshaw.
In. conclusion, [hope that the writer of this article "A Recent Play" has now recovered from the nasty taste left in his mouth after seeing "Room For Two." Iam still recover~ ing from a similar affliction after reading his article.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.