Sir, - Margaret Cave misses the point when she says "There's nowt truly new under the sun" (D&S, June 1).

Take two examples, New Labour is really a 19th century liberal party but it appears "new" in the 21st, and would a Summer Roll (recipe of the week) be a New Summer Roll if, along with the bacon, pork and cooking apples, one added a Mars bar.

Even Star Trek has taken the fun and wow factor out of interstellar travel. Is that because someone thought of it first or will be the first to make it work.

Everything is new that happens today and tomorrow, not because it appears to be similar to what happened yesterday, but because it is contemporary with new people experiencing it all with unencumbered minds.

I'll save my sleeveless, collarless sheepskin jacket with Norton Motorcycle stitched badges for the day when heavy metal music comes back into fashion.

WENZEL SPATH

North Street,

Ripon.

Unfair review

Sir, - With reference to CR's review of the Man of La Mancha (D&S, May 25), I would just like to ask him which performance he watched.

He certainly did not go to the same one as myself on the Saturday evening, or in indeed any of the other days if comments from people who attended them are anything to go by.

I found the performance I watched brilliant, one of the best I have seen the Richmond Operatics perform, and I have seen several of their shows. They certainly deserved a much more praiseworthy review than the one they got.

All the actors and actresses, those with big parts as well as small, gave 100pc. The scenery and music added to the wonderful performance. CR's comments that Prue Nunn's singing was slightly off key was unjustified. She played her dual roles aptly and her singing was appropriately in character. Then I suppose he has never heard of "character singing".

I would like to conclude by saying can you please let the people of Richmond know what excellent shows are produced by the Operatics despite the mediocre write ups from uninformed critics.

(Mrs) P M SHEPHERD

Pallett Hill,

Catterick Village.

Sir, - I read with dismay the review by CR on the Man of La Mancha.

My husband and I travelled from Blyth in Newcastle to see this show, as we often do, as we feel the shows are worth travelling to see, and we have never been disappointed.

The Man of La Mancha was no exception to this rule, if anything it surpassed all our expectations. That is why we were so disappointed with the review, we felt it deserved better.

The music, stage settings, acting and singing was brilliant. It held us compelled in our seats until the curtains. The director needs complementing on producing such a professional show.

You could not pick out anyone and say that they did better or worse than anyone else, as each and every member of the cast performed excellently with gusto, taking over their characters to perfection.

I used to look forward to receiving the newspaper articles my friends in Richmond send me, but I have been disappointed now with a couple of CR's comments. Is he deliberately trying to put people off, or does he just not appreciate good shows when he sees them. If this is the case perhaps another critic should take over.

H M HEWITSON

Rothbury Avenue,

Blyth,

Northumberland.

More Letters to the Editor on page 22