Sir, It is splendid that Brendan Behan is back where he belongs on stage at the Abbey and the Gaiety.
I made pilgrimage to the Theatre Royal at Stratford where it all began for Brendan. In this garish, rather tawdry theatre tucked away between high rise glass towers and shabby shops, Behan became the darling of the critics and exploded rituals of West End theatrical snobbery. His well oiled storming, of stage and impromptu haranguing of the audience injected daring anarchy and freed theatre from chains of convention. And when Kenneth Tynan reviewed it with the immortal remark: "The English hoard words like misers, the Irish spend them like sailors out on a spree". Behan was up and away down the riotous, rollicking road to self destruction.
It would be exhilarating if Mr Toibin and Mr Drew were to their Behan celebration to Stratford. It is to me the "bells of hell went ting a ling" once more across London's theatreland.
Yours. etc.,
Orsett Terrace
Woodfoid Glen,
Essex.
