MATINEE IDYLLS

If prima donnas like Natalia Makarova (“On Your Toes”) and Jennifer Holliday (“Dreamgirls”) can’t perform two matinees a week because the roles are “too demanding,” then they should go into another line of work (Stage Watch, by Sylvie Drake, July 31).

There are too many talented entertainers (Rebecca Wright is wonderful in “On Your Toes”) who could easily fill these roles and would be thrilled just for the opportunity to work in the theater.

Mary Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Helen Hayes, Sir Laurence Olivier, Ethel Merman, Jack Lemmon, Lena Horne, Jose Ferrer, Carol Channing, just to name a few established superstars, performed eight times a week and in much more taxing roles than these two aforementioned temperamentalists.

Skyrocketing ticket prices plus unadvertised alternates equals empty theater seats!

WINIFRED DAVIS

Los Angeles