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More Bullets Fly: Broadway producer David Merrick escalated his battle with New York Times theater critic Frank Rich on Thursday by sending a letter of complaint to Rich’s boss, deputy publisher Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr.. Merrick wrote that he and an assistant observed Rich and New York Times theater columnist Alex Witchel, during the Oct. 30 performance of Merrick’s newest Broadway musical, “Oh, Kay!” “I am told (Witchel) is romantically linked with Mr. Rich,” Merrick said. “Throughout the evening, Ms. Witchel giggled, holding her hands up to her face to shield herself. Mr. Rich received gentle nudges from Ms. Witchel . . . . I violently object to Alex Witchel’s unsuitable hehavior . . . and will always wonder how her shockingly unprofessional behavior . . . influenced Frank Rich’s judgement of my show.” Sulzberger said he would not comment on his mail.