Hitting Marks

This is to respond to the critique by Mark Chalon Smith of “The Glory of Christmas” (“ ‘Glory of Christmas’ Serves Up Joy of the Season--Clumsily,” Calendar).

Smith comments on the clumsy crowd scenes as actors look for their marks. As one of the 150 volunteers who made up the two casts for the crowd scenes, I would like to make it clear that we did not have any marks to hit. We were told only to make room for the dancers when they appeared in the betrothal and census scenes.

Moreover, I find it somewhat baffling that Smith would go to a church to watch a musical presentation--based on the church’s beliefs, with a cast of volunteers who are all members of the church--and then call it sensational and preachy. That’s kind of like going to Knott’s “Scary Farm” and then complaining about ghosts and goblins.

DENNIS O’CONNOR, Garden Grove