SOURCE: "No Tricks in Plain and Simple Faith," in The Times, London, March 23, 1991, p. 19.

Others abide our question; thou art free. But for many years now, thou hast been anything but free. When, and how and why, did the modern vogue for buggering Shakespeare about start? More to the point, why do we put up with it? True, we smile tolerantly when we read of the outrages to which he was subjected by 18th century actor-managers; but surely we should have progressed beyond the crudities of earlier times?

Well, we should, certainly, but let me give you a mild example of our modern equivalent of the habit (quite customary two centuries ago) of giving King Lear a happy ending.

Not long ago, there was in London a production of The Merchant of Venice, I do not name the director, for a reason he will spot if he reads...