Horsham, Sussex 13 Oct 1978. Dear Michael, I would take issue with points in three GG No 11 reviews:

1. Adrian Willison's criticism of a Gondoliers production for using fake roses. He surely cannot know of the strong theatrical superstition that real flowers on stage bring bad luck (as with quoting from Macbeth backstage). This apart, think of the problems of providing fresh thornless roses for the run of a production in February.

2. Aidan Evans' note on Leonard in The Yeomen at the Tower. “I hasten to add that David Fieldsend was not cast exclusively for his horsemanship”. Mr. Evans can be excused for joining the majority of the audiences in being misled. Jesse Shereff over from New York, told me of the performance on Aug 10th adlibbing and stalling preceding the late arrival of Leonard on stage in the second act. But there is humour in all things, and during David Fieldsend's opening dialogue, the 'ringer' Leonard galloped along the moat to find that he had mistimed his ride and was too late. The audience was not slow to appreciate the reason for his discomfiture!

3. John Barratt's ungallant remarks regarding the figures and ages of an Iolanthe ladies chorus. I understand that Gilbert, tongueincheek, wrote Iolanthe in the sure knowledge that his first fairies, and probably most future sets, would be assorted shapes, sizes and ages. Yours L. JOHN CANNON [I took issue with Mr. Cannon on the last point, and asked for a reference. Pressed on the point Mr. Cannon replied "I'm afraid I can't substantiate the Gilbert/fairy business. It came from a semiprofessional producer, now dead, and I can't come up with a reference in print maybe it is just an old wives tale." Certainly, I have never heard this story, and think it extremely unlikely, that Gilbert, with all the professional talent of London at his disposal, would have been prepared to accept elderly, ugly fairies in his chorus. Ed.]

Epsom, Surrey 10 Oct. Dear Mr. Walters,....I wouldn't be surprised if you haven't put your finger on the reason why the Strephon Song does not fit into Iolanthe [ICOS crit, GG 11.] as we usually see it. If the Chancellor is played in the Grossmith/Pantaloon manner, he sets the tone for the whole ... In fact, the Cheam effort, like so many others inclined to the broad view. The Cheam Strephon, like the one you saw, felt that the song was well worthwhile, and incidentally, gave an excellent performance of it. All the same, in that production, it was out of place. Sincerely Dr. R.J. CRICK.

Washington D.C. 26 Oct. 1978.

Dear Michael, ... DOC has come and gone, leaving a grateful Washington, DC audience, one of the few who were permitted the chance of seeing Ida, owing to the way in which the North American tour was handled. I suppose you've heard of the disruptive tactics and desperate measures cooked up by our disgruntled New York cousins to protest against the 10day, Idaless wonder that passed for a New York run; picketing outside the NY State Theater; singing choruses from Ida at all performances before the curtain and during the intermission; organizing massive traffic jams caused by productions of miniIdas being performed in the back of twodozen pickup trucks all timed to converge on Lincoln Centre 15 minutes before show time. It appears that with the exception of our good, if critical, neighbours to the north, the DOC was pretty well received over here. As ever, SARA KANE

Dear Michael, ... Several years ago, when Connie Thompson first started asking for assistance for her G & S index, one of the things I did for her was to have about 1/3 of the Harvard College Library Theatre Collection's G&S clipping file microfilmed so she could get a copy. Last summer I spent a week getting another 900 clippings set up for microfilming. Next summer I hope to finish it off. Then the Theatre Collection will have the entire G&S clipping file for the period 18771977 on film. I mention this because it is possible to obtain copies of such films at relatively little cost if any of your correspondents are interested in such things. There is not yet an index to the films, and I don't know off hand what the charge would be for reproducing both reels of film, but anyone interested in this could address inquiries to: Theatre Collection, Harvard College Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. 02138, U.S.A. Best wishes, Peter ZAVON

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