ABSTRACT
The anger in his voice was plain to hear. In May 1956 the theatrical impresario, Jack Waller, addressed a congregation of actors, backstage staff and showbusiness peers to celebrate the 500th performance of his production of Philip King’s smash-hit farce Sailor, Beware!. But what should have been a joyful occasion at the Strand Theatre in London turned on its head when Waller took a swipe at what he saw as the enemy – the critics. His outburst was in reference to his other show which had opened in town only a few days before. Wild Grows the Heather, a musical based on a J.M. Barrie play, had effectively been beaten up in print.
