![]() Obviously this is a classic company with enormous potential. The choice of plays has also, so far, been eclectic but rewarding. ![]() The actors are an outstandingly gifted group-and the principle of playing a leading role in one production and perhaps only a walk‐on in another seems to keep all ambitions satisfied and all egos assuaged. It seems to work a lot better than might be expected. The 17 actors are all treated equally, and artistic management is by consensus. The major attraction is the Actors' Company in Congreve's “The Way of the World” and Chekhov's “The Wood Demon.” This cooperative group made its very successful debut at last year's festival, and there is now talk of a New York season. ![]() For all this, I saw a great deal I admired. This festival has Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, Sir Georg Solti, Carlo Maria Guilini, Daniel Barenboim, Alexander Gibson, Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti-and that is a list only of the conductors. The sheer quantity of Edinburgh Festival music is impressive and the roster of stars even more so. ![]() Therefore, while it is perfectly possible to arrange a most spectacular music program, drama does not come off so easily. Peter Diamond, the festival director, is faced with the perennial shortage‐of suitable theaters in Edinburgh. There is some justice in this but not much. It has been generally felt that the festival pays too much attention to music and opera and too little to drama and, for that matter, dance. 6-In this Edinburgh Festival, the drama offerings have come in for a certain amount of general criticism. ![]()
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