Sir, - As an embarrassed and incensed member of the audience at the Royal National Theatre's excellent production of Hamlet at the Gaiety Theatre last Wednesday evening, I would like to extend my apologies to the cast for the continuous crackling of popcorn bags and consumption of their contents, slurping of drinks, muffles mobile phone noises, persistent murmured conversations throughout the performance, spectacular coughing bouts and - to cap it all - the late admittance of 40 people or more into the upper circle more than 30 minutes into the performance with the subsequent clanking of seats.
A true cacophony of sounds, and a tragedy indeed. - Yours, etc.
Mary McDonald, Stonybatter, Dublin 7.