Sierra Madre Needs Annual Summer Shakespeare Festival

Speaking as a senior citizen, native of Pasadena and resident of Sierra Madre since 1944, there is a sadness in my heart over the present “on hold” position of Eric Waterhouse’s TheaterQuest proposal for our city (Times, Oct. 24).

To me and to many others, the plan for an annual summertime Shakespeare Festival to be held in a Memorial Park represents a vibrant renewal opportunity for Sierra Madre. Therefore, I felt very disheartened by the evident pursuance of the local negative voices by the Parks and Recreation Commission. I did not feel that there was due consideration given to the people who voiced total enthusiasm and support for TheaterQuest.

The negative voices stemmed mainly from (1) people who live adjacent to the park; (2) the Congregational Church across the street from the park; (3) the little theater group presently performing in our old theater on the boulevard, and (4) the senior citizens group who meet in the park.

My dictionary defines a park as a tract of land for public use in or near a city. I would suggest: (1) do not choose to live adjacent to a park if it’s a retreat you desire; (2) how un-Christian; (3) were you really saying, “We were here first, we are all that Sierra Madre needs”? And (4) to the senior citizens (of which I am one), I have a plea: C’mon guys, let’s not be old in spirit. Our youth (the major concern of TheaterQuest) are in need for us to reach out to them.

I pray that Eric Waterhouse will return with TheaterQuest and that somehow the authoritative administrators of our city will drop their hostile, power-trip attitudes and thus will be able to dust off and put out our presently stored welcome mat.

JAYNE TYREE

Sierra Madre