The Equity Leadership

At last, the hidden agenda revealed: The L.A. Times quoting unamed Actors’ Equity sources: “. . . reducing competition for the entertainment dollar will foster more professional theater in Los Angeles” (“What’s at Stake in Waiver Proposal,” by Sylvie Drake, April 2).

Translation: If the 99-seat theaters are obliterated (in direct opposition to the stated and restated wishes of membership), we might--just might--get a few more contract productions that we can control. It doesn’t matter that thousands of L.A. actors would be forced to sit idle after the Waiver theaters go under.

We now know how cynically our union leadership has manipulated the trusting Los Angeles actor who believes his union is actually responsive to his wishes.

We know that the will of the members is of no consequence to these people, and that the intention was never to come up with a workable 99-seat theater plan. Nobody-- nobody --wants to keep the Equity Waiver Plan as it is, yet 1,023 informed actors on Monday voted to do so just that simply to forestall disaster (“Actors’ Equity Plan Wins Approval; Draws Criticism,” by Sylvie Drake and Don Shirley, April 6).

Our union officials have revealed themselves as unfit to hold office in a democratic organization. They should resign now and allow us to elect representatives who will truly represent us--openly and honestly.

BARBARA BECKLEY

member, Actors’ Equity

General Manager

The Colony

Los Angeles