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Quentin Letts Tries to Close Down Lyric Theatre

I strongly recommend you read the article for which I've given the link below but a short precis is that Quentin Letts, theatre critic for the Daily Mail was so incensed byt the theatre's recent staging of 'Saved' that he contacted their sponsors urging them to pull fund. The play generally was very positively reviewed.http://www.danrebellato.co.uk/Site/Spilled_Ink/Entries/2011/12/13_The_Limits_of_Criticism.html

Karen Cooper ● 4875d7 Comments

I went to see Midsummer Night's Dream this week and it was hilarious. Surely you should judge a play on how good it is rather than how faithfully it sticks to the original text.

Karen Cooper ● 4798d

Reading the review on this site of the Lyric's Midsummer Night's Dream doesn't give me much encouragement to attend. It isn't necessarily that the comments are negative but the idea of deconstructing Shakespeare to the point that the original play is almost unrecognisable seems pointless. Either present new drama or stick closely to the playwright's original intentions. Thinking that you can improve the play strikes me as a bit arrogant.

Paul Corcoran ● 4813d

It seems to me that Quentin Letts has given the Lyric some badly needed free publicity. I haven't been there for years but this news prompts me to haveva look at the Lyric's website.

David Giles ● 4852d

Joanna, West End musicals are hugely popular and I think it is dangerous to assume that because of that they must be low quality. Most of the ones that I have seen have been fabulously entertaining. The Lyric probably should be looking at the way the National Theatre does things - it's not afraid to put on productions which will have broad appeal as long as the artistic merit is high.

Paul Corcoran ● 4862d

The Lyric Theatre is to be highly recommended. It usually offers innovative, highly entertaining, thought provoking and superbly staged plays in contrast to so much of a dire fare of the West End (especially musicals).

Joanna El Nemr ● 4870d

I also haven't been in years, not since I had to attend some dire but worthy performances with the kids. I checked out the forthcoming performances and they all looked a bit unappealing until I saw they were to perform Midsummer Nights Dream. Then I read further and found they plan to 'remix and revitalise Shakespeare's play' words that should spell dread to the theatre going public.

Danny Kopech ● 4874d

If Quentin Letts behaved as he did then that is inexcusable. On the other hand as a reasonably regular theatre goer I haven't been to the Lyric for a very long time. Many of the productions do seem to bill themselves self-consciously as challenging and controversial as if quality alone isn't enough. I can't remember the last time someone recommended I go to a play there.

Paul Corcoran ● 4874d