An obit for the recently late Sir Peter Hall mentions his letter to the critic Sheridan Morley..... an interesting first name that may have influenced his pen.
Apparently, Hall took him to task in a strong letter, of which the final paragraph reads, "The poor fellow, hardened by years of giving it out regularly, has forgotten how to take it. The end of this sad story can be the ultimate vanity: the critic who will not hear one word of criticism about himself."
No mention of what the upshot of this was. Hall being prolific in the production and direction of many works theatrical and operatic gave opportunity for a comeback, I suppose.
Does anyone ever take the critics to task? There are a few famous ones who with flash and witty pens must have caused many a heart flutter in their time - Brian Sewell and AA Gill spring to mind but what of others - and do their thoughts - and their little stars really count?.