The story Davy tells about Merrick inviting people with the same names as prominent reviewers wasn't for Oliver; it was for 1961's "Subways Are for Sleeping". (And it was done not because of the newspaper strike but because the play was a bomb).
To Merrick's credit, he didn't force these 7 folk to praise the show. But he treated them to dinner and a Broadway show; of course they were going to say good things.
The story Davy tells about Merrick inviting people with the same names as prominent reviewers wasn't for Oliver; it was for 1961's "Subways Are for Sleeping". (And it was done not because of the newspaper strike but because the play was a bomb).
Wiki link has the ad. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subways_Are_for_Sleeping
To Merrick's credit, he didn't force these 7 folk to praise the show. But he treated them to dinner and a Broadway show; of course they were going to say good things.