STORMY WEATHER

I am bothered by Dan Sullivan’s review of “Singin’ in the Rain” at the Pantages Theater (“ ‘Singin’ in Rain’--It’s Cute, But. . . ,” Dec. 12).

Although the show earned a most enthusiastic ovation, our trusted critic found it “hard to see the reasoning” behind the stage adaptation. He compares it to the original movie version, which he reminds us is “available at your local video store.”

The implications here are troublesome to me. Are we to stop supporting live theater productions once they’ve been captured on film? If this is the case, then we should never see another revival of any of our classic musicals.

Certainly, “The Sound of Music,” “My Fair Lady,” and “The King and I” have received definitive movie treatments. But let’s take this a step further. How about plays? Surely we don’t need another interminable production of “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” when we can rush out and rent Katharine Hepburn’s magnificent performance for a dollar.

Tell me, is Sullivan trying to kill live theater or what?

LARRY ROESCH

Pasadena