Sir, - Having attended with my husband the production of The Secret Fall of Constance Wilde at the Abbey Theatre, I would agree with your critic David Nowlan (October 9th) that this production was "dramatically sterile". I would go a step further and say that it also was weird, and the whole performance somewhat of a bore.
We were going to leave at the interval, but unfortunately decided to stick it out. In the second act there is a scene which depicts Oscar Wilde in prison, kneeling to receive Holy Communion, with Bosie taking the part of the priest. After the Host is administered the priest (Bosie) kisses Oscar on the hands and then on the lips. The significance of this in the context of the production was beyond us and we found it deeply offensive and profane.
We have come to rather a new low in theatre in this country. If this is the best our national theatre can give us for our festival, I fear for the future. - Yours, etc.,
From Eithne Giblin
Howth Road, Sutton, Dublin 13.